My grandfather, Adrian Zuidweg, in a toy car in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Do you think this toy car was purchased or built? I searched images of these pedal cars from the era of 1913-18, and I didn’t see anything quite this “bare bones.” Notice that there aren’t any fenders, little touches like that. So I’m not sure, although it does appear to be the Packard logo.
It doesn’t surprise me that my grandfather would have a nice toy like this. He was an only child, and his father owned a fish market.
Look at his sweet little hat. And the clothesline out back.
The Family Kalamazoo 
Maybe it came as a kit? Certainly not “homemade” with the Packard logo on it. He is adorable! Oh, what I would give to see photographs of my grandparents as children!
That’s a great idea: a kit! Yes, because it would make sense that it would have the logo and yet be simple enough for a layperson to put it together.
Yes, I wish you could, too. I recently came across one of my paternal grandmother as a child. So I have both grandmothers in a formal pose as children (with family members). But this grandpa is the only grandparent with actual snapshots of his life!
You are so fortunate—I’d even take a blurry photo! And I have NO photo of my mother’s maternal grandfather. How I wish I could see his face.
Love the car and hat; he looks like a little man in the car. I just watched a rerun of an American Pickers episode a week or so ago and Mike actually bought a child’s car very similar. I don’t think it said Packard though. Wish I had payed more attention and my memory was better. Great picture Luanne
Oh wow, I’ll ask my husband if he’s seen that episode! He does look like a little man–so cute :).
He’s very proud of that car, that’s for sure! Considering that real cars of that era weren’t too fancy, it might be ‘store-bought’.
I think you might be right! So proud. And so cute.
quite the attire he wears as he takes his car out for a spin!
Snappy dresser! He was in all his younger photos, even as a young man.
Nice ride. Bet he was the envy.
I’m sure he was! Thanks for stopping by!
Such a cool photo, Luanne! ❤
[…] upon a time I posted on my other family history blog, The Family Kalamazoo, a story about Isidore Scheshko. I am going to repost it here so that has a home where it best […]
Absolutely adorable!
I know :)!
I would think it’s a slightly earlier version of this one from 1915-1916: https://www.bargainjohn.com/product/packard-tandem-seats-for-two-antique-pedal-car/
Curiously, I was researching pedal cars just a few days ago (not this make, though, and probably a British one.)
Wow, $6,750! Too bad we don’t still have this pedal car! 🙂 Thanks so much, Val. Out of curiosity, why were you researching pedal cars?!
I have a photo I’m colouring that has a pedal car in it and I wanted to get an idea of the date of the photo from that. It’s nowhere near as old as your one though.
Oh, very cool. I just checked out your blog. WOW! What gorgeous work. I have some that I would love to see colored. Is it a very expensive service?
Thanks. Cost depends on the content of the photo/s and how much work each needs (ie, if it needs a lot of restoration.) Send me an email via my contact form and I’ll tell you some more about it. I did have a pdf with lots of info but it was horribly long-winded and I need to rewrite it!
Thanks, Val.