Collections record Beta

Pedal car

2017-02-1

Promotional pedal car from the First National Bank of Litchfield. Red metal body in the shape of an early fire engine with fluted side panels, rounded front, and square back. Open seat design with silver metal steering wheel, red metal seat, small open tailgate, and silver plastic grill, bumper, and headlamps. Attached at the front is a silver bell with black cord pull string. Attached at the back is a metal rack which holds a short wooden ladder and coiled rubber hose with nozzle. Second ladder is missing. Red metal wheels with silver hubcaps and rubber tires with white walls. Pedal mechanism attached underneath. On each side in vinyl lettering, "THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF LITCHFIELD/Since 1814" with an image of a neoclassical building. Two white vinyl lighting bolt decals on each side. Sticker on the interior reads "PRODUCT BY/BURNS NOVELTY AND TOY CO, LLC./SACRAMENTO, CA./WWW.BNTC.COM/1-800-955-BNTC (2682)/"WE MAKE KIDS HAPPU"/MADE IN KOREA."

Purchased from antiques dealer in Goshen, CT.

The Burns Novelty & Toy Co. began in 1998 with two reproduction pedal car models, a taxi and a fire engine. The toys sold largely in independent toy stores and catalogs, as well as through FAO Schwartz, the only national retail toy company carrying the products. The original retail for the fire engine was around $299.00. Other examples of the fire engine all have a Fire Department label on the side, indicating that this is either a custom piece done for the bank or that someone removed the original label and added the current vinyl lettering. The First National Bank of Litchfield became the current Union Savings Bank through a merger in 2010.

• Burns Novelty & Toy Co.

1998-2000

Length 41", Width 15.5", Height 22.5"

• rubber
• metal
• plastic
• wood