American Pickers is hands down my favorite series on tv. I love picking. Junk yards, antique stores, yard sales and what not. Today was a great day for making a pick. About 4 years ago I had passed up a Flexible Flyer snow sled for the price and since then have noticed the rise in popularity. The "FF" sled is a first, was received patent in 1889 and since then it's been game on. In snow states, every kid had one under the Christmas tree at one time or another. Today, I hit the jackpot.
About 3 blocks from our house is an antique store that is shutting down. THAT is a picker's dream. Except for a select few items so marked, everything is 70% off. So I noticed most of the 80-90yr old stuff had the "price as marked, firm". There hanging above a main window was a Flexible Flyer with a reg price 75.00 tag. Wow!!! Even at the regular price it was an outright steal. I grabbed it for 22.50! Two old guys were pointing at it wondering what the age would be. I told them just guessing maybe in the 1930s or 40's. My aim was to surprise my wife because she is a great seasonal decorator. I found a website that gives info on dating your vintage Flexible Flyer. I pegged it at pre-1914. An expert and enthusiast (they love to restore, repair and slide them) said "no way, that is the series 1 and could be in the 1890's. There are millions of these sleds but not the first series. Kids and adults used and abused them, trashed and tossed them because they were abundant and cheap. So, here is a rare bird. For 22.50. Thank you, Jesus.