Unknown Tricycle With Badger Line Headbadge
Q: Hi, Attached are photos of an old Tricycle that I am trying to identify. The headplate reads “One of the Badger Line”. It makes no reference to a maker or year made. I would greatly appreciate any help you could give me. This one has me stumped. Thanks, Randy
A: Ah, you’ve got us stumped too. Your tricycle was made in the 19-teens or 1920′s era. It is very similar to a lot of tricycles made during this time period. It has a heavy tube and lug design and seems to have generic parts such as handlebars, saddle etc. Some company must have provided these generic parts and lugs during that time period, because we see a lot of oddball brands, such as yours, in questions from our readers.
There are two possible sources for tricycles such as yours that seem to be one-of-a-kind rare. Both ways were used by different companies. One is that a larger manufacturer made the tricycles for a retailer or distributor of some sort and custom headbadges were applied to give the trike the branding of the retailer. The other source is that small manufacturing or retail companies (anything from hardware stores to toy makers to car makers) bought tricycle parts, tubing and lugs and made their own tricycles.
Both ways are still happening today, mostly in the bicycle industry. For example, all of Wal-Mart’s inventory is essentially made by one big manufacturer and labeled with different “brand” names. And tubing and lugs are readily available for any welder to make their own bikes at home.
Sorry we couldn’t be more help, maybe another reader will know something and help out in the comments section. Also when researching your tricycle, you might want to focus on Wisconsin and toy, bike and auto manufacturing companies there during the 19teens. Unfortunately your searches online will probably be clogged with Trek bicycle results, so omit the word Trek.
