For your consideration is a Vintage Cast-Iron & Wood Flexible Flyer Snow Sled, Model 55H "Airline Chief". Samuel Leeds Allen (1841-1918) was the founder of S.L. Allen & Company in Philadelphia. He was the inventor of, and his company manufactured, both the Flexible Flyer sled and Planet Jr farm and garden equipment. For over one hundred years these products were the best selling and most famous market gardening tools and American sleds. At first, the sleds did not sell well until he began marketing them to the toy departments of department stores. By 1915 the company was selling 2,000 sleds a week with an estimated 120,000 each winter season! Now a household name, the Flexible Flyer was unique because of its steering ability. Up to that point, a sled rider had little control beyond traveling in a straight line – toboggans were equally likely to travel only in a straight line as well. The popularity of the Flexible Flyer brand grew steadily in the 1920s. The sled’s design was improved with changes such as steerable bumpers in 1928 and rounded rears for the runners in 1935. These rounded rears called “Safety Runners” helped prevent sledders from accidentally impaling themselves on sleds ahead of them. The “Airline” series which started manufacturing in 1935. The model names in this series indicated the length of the sled. Models in the “Airline” series included: Ace (37), Pilot (41), Patrol (44), Pursuit (47), Junior (51), Chief (55), Racer (60), Cruiser (65), Eagle (151), and Commander (105). Between 1935 and 1949 the model name was displayed on the deck. After 1949, the series name and model were displayed on the undercarriage, as well as the company name. Also after 1949, the numbers 37, 44, 55, and 65 were considered “Standard Models” with wider decks and straight sides. This "Airline" series sled is in amazingly good condition, original painted lettering and lithograph designs are clear with minimal fading, runners and metal hardware paint scraped off in some places from normal use. Original deck and runners are in fine condition. Measures 15"W x 55"L x 8"D, steering arm is 24"W