Windy Miller tricycle

Trumptonalia.

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A friction drive toy,courtesy of Codeg (aka Cowan de Groot)

Produced in 1966 with a manufacturers reference number of "503"

It's not big,at just 5.5" tall by 4" long by 2" wide. Mainly plastic with metal components. No key required,as it's friction drive. And when you set it in motion his legs move to give the allusion he's pedalling.

I'm almost 100% certain that this particular item was a one-off,stand alone effort.Although Codeg did make other Trumptonshire products.

Camberwick did have quite a few vehicles they could've chosen from of course.But Windy's tricycle was the only one that required any physical input.And a large part of the attraction with this toy is that his legs move,as well as the bike.

That said,I think I'd have done a P.C.Mcgarry version as well.

Because whilst his motorbike would've needed stabilisers,and his legs wouldn't have moved he was certainly popular enough to merit one.

And the only other single-person vehicle in Camberwick neatly managed to sidestep the stability issue because Roger Varley's motorbike had a sidecar ! But he was far too much of a "B-lister" to even be considered.

As was young Paddy Murphy sadly,despite making an interesting choice whizzing around on his rollerskates.

But as Captain Mainwaring used to say -"I think you're getting into the realms of fantasy now Jones" !

So let's get back to what we did get.......good old Windy.     Continued ........

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Since we're talking popularity though,it's certainly worth re-iterating just how much sales clout Windy had.

Because if anyone else had ridden the tricycle it's odds-on it wouldn't have got made and we'd have nothing at all to talk about here.

But it was.And it's a fun and colourful little item.Robust enough to be fit-for-purpose,yet surprisingly well-finished for what's ultimately just a bit of Hong Kong plastic.

And I've also seen a version with a yellow trike and blue smock,which is an interesting twist,if a little odd when the packaging made no specific mention of it.

And,as with all un-advertised colour variations,you do wonder why toy companies bothered (and they often did)

But at least it's appreciated by toy collectors,all these years later I suppose.

Sadly,I've never been lucky enough to own one myself.Although these days I think I'd probably appreciate the box almost as much as the toy.

Not from any monetary standpoint-although a decent example could easily double the toy's value,and then some.But simply because I find the artwork so evocative of a much less complicated and "knowing" time.

Refreshingly simple and straightforward ...........much like the series itself of course.