We went to see the recent exhibition “LE FORME DEL GIOCO” at the ADI Design Museum in Milan.

The inauguration coincided with the presentation of the book: “GIORDANI il mito delle auto a pedali (the pedal car legend)” by Gigi Soldano and Piero Pini.

Gigi Soldano, as many will know, is a famous and multifaceted photographer.

For some he is “the one who photographs speed”, because without a shadow of a doubt the most iconic photos of the MotoGP and motorsport… were taken by him.

And that's why we found the ban, by the 'mononeurone' placed at the entrance (at the reception), on taking photos absolutely laughable.

With cell phones, yes, but not with the cameras of those who, like us, always have the habit of accrediting themselves, with business cards and whatever else is needed.

Considering the fact that today some cell phones allow you to take photos with excellent resolution.

And of course, the exhibition was free to enter and no mention of this ridiculous ban was made anywhere, including on the website.

A phrase from a journalist friend of mine came to mind: “Every head is a world, in that of many there is no intelligent life”…

But… aside from this hilarious anecdote, don’t get me wrong, the exhibition was beautiful, exciting and definitely engaging.

It was one of those exhibitions that inevitably touches deep chords in each of us, because each of us in some way has had to do with toy cars and seeing them in an exhibition brings back childhood memories that are decidedly precious and unrepeatable.

The same book by Gigi Soldano and Piero Pini is, in my humble opinion, a ‘must have’.

Beautiful photos and pure poetry in telling that for five generations, from 1875 to 1984, the Giordani family created, with commitment and passion, a company that, from its original iron working, specialized in the production of sports toys and prams.

This ‘happiness factory’ at the service of families and children has left an indelible mark on their imagination and a fame that still survives, so much so that today those objects are particularly sought after in the modern antiques and collectors' market.

Below we tell the story of pedal cars in broad terms, having done a search on the web.

I hope you find it interesting. At the bottom you will find some links that can be useful and we also hope you like our photos.

Enjoy the reading.

Gabriella Ruggieri for 1blog4u

At the beginning of the 20th century, pedal cars timidly entered in the market.

A 1902 catalog, published in Paris, showed the precursor of the pedal cars: a wooden vehicle that resembled a horseless carriage.

This small ‘Landau’ was a fairy-tale toy at that time: it had a wooden body, mudguards, brakes, lights, a steering wheel and a horn. 

It cost 65 French francs, which was a reasonable price for that period.

It must be said, however, that the first pedal cars were actually very expensive and thus available only to a very limited number of buyers. They were made by craftsmen in small quantities, which explains their price. 

After all, the same could be said of cars.

Also in the United States there was evidence of pedal vehicles at the very beginning of the 20th century. 

The 1903 Chicago catalog featured pictures of such children's vehicles along with horses, wagons, and tricycles.

They were designed as carriages and worked on the same principle as a bicycle. 

Around 1910, pedal cars started to flourish. 

In more advanced countries, specialised factories grew rapidly, and new models became more sophisticated. They were equipped with slanted windscreens, mudguards, number plates, lights, chrome parts, bumpers, spare wheels, tires, horns and upholstered seats. 

These ‘kids' cars’ were the emulation of ‘adult cars’ in all aspects.

Liens, a British toy manufacturer later known as Tri-ang, began to produce pedal cars around 1909. In the following years, Tri-ang produced a huge number of great looking models for several generations of children. Giordani, an Italian company founded in 1875, originally producing wheelchairs, tricycles and children's toys, presented its first pedal car in 1915. 

France has also played an important role in the history of pedal cars. 

In 2014, a two-seater car resembling Peugeot Grand Prix 1911 with pedals mounted on ball bearings appeared on the market. 

The manufacturer offered different versions of this model at different prices. 

The most expensive version was a two-meter long model which cost 175 French francs, while the cheapest one cost 25 francs.

André Citroën was also one of the first industry leaders to see the pedal car as a brilliant promotional vehicle for car manufacturers and children as future customers. One of his famous quotes was: "The first words a child should learn to pronounce are mum, dad and Citroën."

This French industrialist started a huge promotional campaign to win the hearts of children.

It lasted ten years, during which more than half a million large mechanical toys intended for the children of Citroën customers were produced by Citroën's special department.

A car like the one your dad owned was no longer just a dream...

Even some other famous car manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon.

The Bugatti 35 Grand Prix was the most significant sports car in the history of the automobile, with a list of over 2,000 victories, on the track and on the road, a record that still stands today. It was the model that more than any other fueled the legend of the "thoroughbred Bugattis".
Ettore Bugatti himself built a true model of the Type 35 with electric drive for his son Roland in 1927. 

About ninety models of this dream toy was made, designated for the sons of the richest clients. The fame of Bugatti Type 35 was too great not to attract other car manufacturers. 
The "Bugatti" pedal variants for children were made by the French company Eureka and brought the Bugatti phenomenon to the parks and children's playgrounds.

World War II interrupted pedal cars boom. Yet, shortly afterwards the world of toys was ready to get back into the game. 

In 1949, the Austin Junior Car Factory, a purpose-built factory producing children's pedal cars, was established in England. The owners employed more than 200 miners with disabilities. The J40 model remained in production for more than 20 years.

In the 1950s, thanks to new technologies, plastic and fiberglass materials began to replace metal, which reduced the cost of manufacturing junior cars and rapidly lowered their prices. The new models had little in common with their ancestors from the 1920's and 1930's in which a lot of craftsmanship and sophistication was incorporated.
The boom of plastic has brought a lot of innovations. 
Imaginary models but also copies of real cars and racing cars such as Ferrari, Lotus, Cooper were designed.
The cheapest models are still pedal-driven, however cars with small electric motors that have gained popularity are produced today at very affordable prices.
But it's no longer history… 

Useful links:

-pedalplanet.sk 

-pedalcarplanet.com

-Gigi Soldano: photomilagro.com

-Giorgio Nada Editore: GIORDANI il mito delle auto a pedali (the pedal car legend) 


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