Garton Toy Company
95 years in operation (1879–1974)
About Garton Toy Company
Garton operated for nearly a century as one of the most prolific producers of outdoor ride-on toys including pedal cars, wagons, scooters, and sleds sold through major retailers nationwide. Their 1950s Hot Rod pedal car is an iconic antique collectible.
History of Garton Toy Company
Garton, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, was one of the big three American pedal-car makers alongside Murray and AMF, and for much of the twentieth century it was the largest. The output was pressed steel: pedal cars, wagons, tricycles, scooters and sleds, built in volume for the department-store and mail-order trade.
The company's reputation rests on the styling of its 1950s pedal cars, which followed Detroit closely enough to be identifiable — the Hot Rod, the Kidillac with its Cadillac-inspired grille and fins, the Casey Jones locomotive, and a series of fire trucks with bells and ladders. These are now the most collected American pedal cars of the period, and the surviving examples are restored far more often than not.
Garton also produced the classic steel coaster wagon in quantity. The business ended in 1974, as pressed-steel ride-ons gave way to blow-moulded plastic and as product-liability exposure made heavy steel children's vehicles commercially unattractive.
Timeline
- 1879The Garton Toy Company is established in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- 1930Pressed-steel pedal cars, wagons and tricycles form the core business
- 1955The Hot Rod, Kidillac and Casey Jones pedal cars define the company's best-known era
- 1974The company closes
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Garton Hot Rod pedal car (1950s)
- Garton Casey Jones locomotive pedal car
- Garton fire truck pedal car
- Garton red wagon
- Garton Kidillac pedal car
Identifying & Dating Garton Toy Company Toys
- Look for a "Garton" decal or embossed mark on the body, rear panel or wagon bed; some pieces carry only a stamped part number and are identified by pattern.
- Store-brand pedal cars were built by Garton for retailers and may carry no Garton mark at all — body pressings and pedal-crank design are how these are attributed.
- Original decals and pinstriping are the identification of last resort and the first thing lost to restoration.
Collector's Notes
- This market runs on restoration, and it is worth deciding which market you are in. A professionally restored Kidillac or Casey Jones sells strongly, but original-paint survivors are scarcer and are valued differently.
- Reproduction parts — pedals, cranks, hubcaps, windshields, decals — are widely available, which makes a "restored original" claim hard to verify. Ask what was replaced.
- Check the floor pan and the areas around the pedal crank for rust-through and previous welding, since these are structural and expensive to put right.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Garton Toy Company founded?
Garton Toy Company was founded in 1879, based in Sheboygan, WI.
Is Garton Toy Company still in business?
No. Garton Toy Company ceased operations in 1974, after 95 years in business.
What is Garton Toy Company best known for?
Garton Toy Company is best known for Garton Hot Rod pedal car (1950s), Garton Casey Jones locomotive pedal car, Garton fire truck pedal car, among other toys.
Where was Garton Toy Company located?
Garton Toy Company was based in Sheboygan, WI.
What kinds of toys did Garton Toy Company make?
Garton Toy Company is categorized under pedal cars, outdoor toys, wagons.
How can you identify genuine Garton Toy Company toys?
Look for a "Garton" decal or embossed mark on the body, rear panel or wagon bed; some pieces carry only a stamped part number and are identified by pattern. Store-brand pedal cars were built by Garton for retailers and may carry no Garton mark at all — body pressings and pedal-crank design are how these are attributed. Original decals and pinstriping are the identification of last resort and the first thing lost to restoration.
Are Garton Toy Company toys valuable?
This market runs on restoration, and it is worth deciding which market you are in. A professionally restored Kidillac or Casey Jones sells strongly, but original-paint survivors are scarcer and are valued differently. Reproduction parts — pedals, cranks, hubcaps, windshields, decals — are widely available, which makes a "restored original" claim hard to verify. Ask what was replaced. Check the floor pan and the areas around the pedal crank for rust-through and previous welding, since these are structural and expensive to put right.