Speed-o-Byke

Although it was not a real motorcycle, designer George Lewis wanted kids riding his Speed-o-Byke to feel like they were. Patented in 1933 and produced by the Metal Specialties Company in Chicago, the Speed-o-Byke was a luxury toy coming out at the peak of the Great Depression. In addition to a vibrant maroon-and-black color scheme, the bike had a coaster brake, adjustable spokes, and sealed roller bearings. The result was a $50 price tag when most children’s bicycles cost $10. The combination of high cost and poor market meant the Speed-o-Bike was produced for less than a decade.