Admit it, you have tried this at one time or another...

I have an antique go kart kind of thing called an Irish Mail (see pic) that my Grandfather gave to my Dad as a boy back in the 20's. Its motivated by cranking the steering column forward and backward. My Dad gave it to me when I was a kid, along with a couple pedal cars. One of the non-pneumatic rear tires on this kart is like new, and the one that actually drives the kart is almost gone. This thing would be worth a lot of money now if I hadn't repeatedly attempted what this kid is doing so successfully (Yes, I know it's not real).

and seeing how far you could spin that front tire on your bigwheel

but that thing might be worth some money as is, there arent too many of them around anymore

ryanty22 wrote: but that thing might be worth some money as is, there arent too many of them around anymore

Doesn't really matter, as it's not something I can ever sell.

I found a picture of one that is exactly like the one I have.

that thing is awesome, i'm sure you can maybe check out a bike shop or somewhere to track down tires for it, or if ya wanted to swap the whole wheels just to get it up and ridable.

I myself lost my front teeth at about age 5 taking a big wheel down a hill, into a curb, and launching into a light post. Don't know how I survived growing up.

In reply to johndej:

I've been told antique buggy wheels can be made to fit and can apparently be found. We actually have it in our house and use it as a plant holder. It makes a neat decoration.
You know how we survived as kids? We were tough. We weren't soft sissy's like kids are now. We understood at a much younger age the consequences of our actions (or we dealt with them better, one or the other). Big wheels hadn't been invented when I was a kid, but I made my own. At the young age of 5 I took a tumble on my tricycle and the handlebar (missing the grip) went into my mouth and tore up my inner cheek pretty good.
I took that tricycle, removed the front fork and seat, flipped the frame over and re-installed the seat and fork to create a tricycle with a lower center of gravity, pretty much what a big wheel ended up being. It was so popular in my neighborhood that over the next 10 years I converted many of them for other kids. If I had been smart, I would have taken it further before someone else figured it out!

Tires for that are not going to be commonly available through a bike shop. Better off leaving as is. Cool conveyance though.

ryanty22 wrote: and seeing how far you could spin that front tire on your bigwheel

So true! I did that all the time. I miss my Big Wheels.

Did you ever take it over any sweet jumps?

Hell yes, I did that as a kid. That 1920's toy is awesome by the way!

In the late 70s and early 80s I went through a E36 M3 load of Big Wheels. I would constantly spin the front wheel, do spin outs, whatever. I also wore sneakers out because I Flinstone'd whenever I wanted to stop.

I'm pretty sure I saw an Irish Mail Cart like that restored on American Restoration or some other tv restoration show.

Just checked google and I was right - episode aired Oct. 28, 2011.

bravenrace wrote:

ryanty22 wrote: but that thing might be worth some money as is, there arent too many of them around anymore

Doesn't really matter, as it's not something I can ever sell.

I completely understand that, ive atually got a 3/4 ratchet that was my grandfathers and made in the late 20s or early 30s that I feel the same way about.

klb67 wrote: I'm pretty sure I saw an Irish Mail Cart like that restored on American Restoration or some other tv restoration show. Just checked google and I was right - episode aired Oct. 238, 2011.

Wow, I had no idea that October had 238 days in it. How many paychecks did you get that month?

I definitely have some stitches in my chin from trying something similar to that...

This thread has caused me to type "back in my day" into google image search and laugh at the stuff that comes up.