In which year was the "Big Wheel" tricycle introduced?

"Big Wheel" is a brand of low-riding tricycles, made mostly of plastic, with a larger front wheel. Introduced by Louis Marx and Company in 1969 and manufactured in Girard, Pennsylvania, It was a very popular toy in the 1970s in the United States, partly because of its low cost and partly because consumer groups said it was a safer alternative to the traditional tricycle or bicycle. The large front wheel also made it a stable, easier tricycle for kids to ride.

The original had rotomolded parts made of red, blue, and yellow plastic. The resulting components were hollow and the pedals connect directly to the front wheel instead of using a chain. The seat sits very low to the ground and is adjusted by pushing two large pegs in its base into pairs of holes in the frame. The large front wheel is the size of a manhole cover. In the 1970s, a handbrake was added in front of the right rear wheel to facilitate intentional spin outs.

It was quickly imitated, under a variety of brand names. Although "Big Wheel" was a registered trademark, it was frequently used as a generic name for any toy whose design resembled that of Marx. The "Big Wheel" brand name and molds were sold to Empire Plastics.

Empire filed for bankruptcy in 2001. The "Big Wheel" was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York, in 2009. In 2021, the "Big Wheel" brand name was acquired by Schylling, Inc.