ROSEBUD

ROSEBUD
As best I can tell, this sled dates to the 1950’s and probably more towards the latter part of the decade as Robert Andrew was born in 1956, and it was purchased ofr him. It was made by the Auto-Wheel Coaster Company of North Tonawanda, NY. It is “all-wheel” drive. The wheels are used on hard surfaces to make a stroller of sorts and then can be retracted to be used as a sled on ice or snow. North Tonawanda is near Niagara Falls so I suspect the dual use was more common in PA than here in Kentucky. But who is to say, because old folks that I oce knew, used to tell me stories of ice skating on the Levisa.

I have a photo somewhere of Robert Andrew as young boy riding in this sled. I need to find it and then kidnap a three-year-old to replicate the image. I like doing things like that. Rob was the first born and was always Mom’s favorite. The novelty of children must have passed after Rob as there are not as many photos of the second(me) and third (James Parker) children at a similar young age. So, I am not sure I ever took a ride in it and if I did it was not such a momentous an occasion as

Sally would have nothing to do with posing for a photo in the sled, so I gave her treat to the other FUPS for menace. I then thought about drugging her but instead opted for a lifeless cat and basselope. I think in the grander scheme of things, Bill the Cat and Rosebud are far more appropriate anyway. Certainly, Rosebud is, given its nod to Citizen Kane.

I think I will restore this sled if for no other reason than it would not be that hard to do. I have wasted far more time on projects of a similar nature, and it seems pointless to have held on to something of this nature for so long and to not do so. I like old things that I have a connection to. Just the simple task of reassembling this sled has awakened memories that I have obviously not forget, but just had not remembered in a while. With Thanksgiving coming up, it is a good time to remember things that had been forgotten. Plus, when I put myslef in the type of mood I am in, I fid myslef trying to write more. There is something about days passed that inspire more.

***I posted the second trademark for clarity. The sled I have is Model 120