Vintage 1950’s Art Deco Streamline Tricycle by Murray Ohio Mfg. Co

Description

Vintage 1950’s Art Deco Streamline Tricycle made by Murray Ohio Mfg. Co. I was able to read a faint label on the main frame part that reads Murray Ohio Mfg Co. It is complete, there is surface oxidation but very solid and will easily restore. The red paint looks original to me but I see blue underneath so either repainted or blue was an undercoat. Original seat has a split in the white vinyl. Solid rubber tires have normal wear but still quite useable. Please see my 12 detailed photos. Local pickup avoids the costly shipping due to the huge box needed; we are located just south of Boston MA.
Murray Tricycle is one of the most famous and sought after tricycles when it comes to the world of vintage bicycles and tricycles. Although they’re readily available through auction sites such as eBay, these tricycles still fetch a great price in mint condition, they’re so much fun to add to a collection, and they are such a nostalgic piece, particularly for older generations. During its heyday in the 1950s and 60s, a Murray tricycle was the coolest way to get around. But the company itself was founded decades earlier in the 20th century. Then it was mostly a car parts company. However, in the 1920s, its management decided to focus on making tricycles. Being a pioneer in this field, Murray used a two-step design process that was a first in the 1960s. One of the Murray tricycle hallmarks, besides the solid build quality, was the curved handlebars. It didn’t take long for Murray to make a name for itself as a reputed manufacturer of tricycles after switching from making toy cars. Demand for their products forced them to quit their initial setup in Cleveland and open a bigger operation in Tennessee. Up until today, Murray is trusted by many parents looking for safe trikes that their kids can learn to ride easily.
The Murray Company was originally founded as the Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company. It was founded in the early 1900s in Cleveland, Ohio, and began making tricycles in 1923. The company was originally founded to supply parts such as fenders, gas tanks, and hoods for the American automobile industry. In 1923, the Murray Company started to include a line of children’s toy cars that eventually became an American icon. After such great success in the toy industry, Murray manufactured toy automobiles and airplanes for children, both of which were foot-propelled, as well as steel coaster wagons. It also produced the company’s first bicycle, the Mercury. With these successes came the production of Murray’s first tricycle. The Murray tricycle was a huge success, requiring the company to relocate from Ohio to a much bigger manufacturing facility in Tennessee. Over the next several decades, this factory grew to be one of the biggest in the United States, and still is today. In 1960 Murray was the first company to introduce the rear two-step design for tricycles. It’s an easy way to determine whether a tricycle was made before or after 1960. In the 1970s, Murray came out with a new tricycle they called the Big Mack. It had one thick tube that acted as the head tube and was the makeup of the frame. Murray made many variations of this tricycle style.