Apparently, during World War 2, the toy company Garton made practice bombs (among other items) for the US war effort. With a surplus of them after the war ended, they added wheels, handles and seats to sell them as children’s tricycles.
The tricycles appear to have been marketed under a variety of names. As well as ‘Sky Rider’, I’ve found ‘U-Ride-It Jet’ and ‘Jet Mobile’.
Many small concerns in Texas also bought the surplus practice bombs, where they were on sale for $1.50 each, and turned them into children’s tricycles. They appear to have used the ‘Jet Mobile’ name for theirs, with advertisements appearing after the war with sale prices around $7.95 (though one shows a much higher price of $12.95). The price dropped as low as $3.95 by 1947.
When I bought this Jet Mobile I found it had been roughly painted, so we restored it, and it’s now once more ready for service…
View in the Online Bicycle Museum
BICYCLE COLLECTORS CURATED ONLINE AUCTION, CHRISTMAS 2024 – JANUARY 2025
This Timed Auction is live from 20th of December 2024 to 26th of January, 2025. Highest bid wins.
NO BUYERS or SELLERS PREMIUM.
THE RESERVE IS THE START PRICE + BUY-IT-NOW OPTION.
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY: NO PACKING FEES.
BIDDING INCREMENTS: Up to £1000 = £10. Over £1000 = £50. Over £2000 = £100
IT’S A CURATED AUCTION – Colin is the auctioneer and is available to chat to you personally during the auction (or before) by email, text message, phonecall, Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp.
