Monday, December 17, 2007

A Division of Lakeside Industries...

...was Lakeside Toys.

Could it be this company?

Lakeside Toys
4400 West 78 Street
Minneapolis MN

Lakeside Toys of The Cheetah fame?

Is this the company that made The Cheetah?

Lakeside Toys
9005 NW 10th Street
Oklahoma City OK 73127
405/787-0186

Lots of comments on The Cheetah at The Daily Ping...

http://www.dailyping.com/index.php?url=archive/2005/04/20/

FROM: thomas
DATE: Saturday September 24, 2005 -- 1:59:48 pm

I'm searching for information on the Cheetah, a kids riding toy. It looked like a "chopper" tricycle. It had a small tire in the front and two wide tires in the back. From memory, it seems to have been some sort of ratchet pumped chain drive that selectively locked in when both pedals were pushed. The seat was low to the ground, like the Big Wheel. The Cheetah was manufactured in the early 1970s and I think it was yellow or red. I am trying to find information whatever information I can; photograph, manufacturer, dimensions, parts, etc. Any help is much appreciated!

FROM: Young
DATE: Monday November 21, 2005 -- 6:30:20 pm

I had a Cheetah and it rocked. All the other kids had big wheels some the standard yellow body and I think there were a few girl models on my block too. The Cheetah dusted them all, by FAR. It was both Yellow and Red, and I too have checked the web for pics because I'd love to get my hands on one (although I'm probably too big for one now) ;).

PS, I've searched my photo album and no pics of it unfortunately.

If you do find something, please contact me at yleedezign@hotmail.com

Thanks and good luck!

From: Bill
Date: 10.27.2006 16:35
I have a front view of 2 Cheetahs with my 3 and 5 year-old boys made in 1974

From: keith
Date: 10.31.2006 00:33
The Cheetah was made by Lakeside Toys of Barrel-of-Monkies fame. My grandmother worked for Lakeside in the early 1970s and as a result I ended up being one of the product test dummies for the Cheetah. I have a photograph of me riding it in 1973, so I assume that's when the Cheetah was first produced. Mine was a prototype and as I recall my Dad had to frequently repair the ratcheting mechanisms which were the Cheetah's propulsion mechanism.

Compared to the Big Wheel, Green Machine, and other contemporary riding toys the Cheetah was surely more expensive to manufacture and more susceptible to break-down. But when it worked, man did it work :-)

From: John Atwood
Date: 10.31.2006 18:46
My two boys had Cheetahs in 1974 when they were 3 and 5 yrs old. Boy would they fly! I have a picture (front view) of them on their Cheetahs. We only had minor mechanical problems and finally gave them to neiaghbor's children as mine grew older. Is Lakeside defunct? Someone could make a mint with the reintro of this toy.

From: Cella
Date: 02.12.2007 23:42
I can't believe I finally found other people who remember the Cheetah. My sister and I shared a red one and wore it into the ground. I seem to recall that the seat disintegrated before the mechanics did, and we still managed to ride it. We had a very long driveway, so we were able to get up some good speed and great skids. For as hard as we rode it, I don't recall either of us ever getting hurt playing on it. It was definitely the early-to-mid 70's. Good times. I would love to find a picture of it online somewhere, especially an ad.

From: Alesandro
Date: 02.20.2007 22:53
I recently found some old pictures of myself riding my beloved Cheetah and tried to find more information online, and came across this site.

I got mine for Christmas 1973 and have 3 pictures (2 front view, 1 side view). The seat is red with a yellow racing stripe, and cheetah decals on the side. It has yellow plastic mag wheels on the rear, and a chrome sissy bar on the back. The front chopper had a spoked narrow rubber wheel and the "tree" (I think that's what you call it) is yellow with a decal that says " ELDON" in red over a checkered flag. The "O" is raised higher than the rest of the lettering.

I used to take great pride blowing away the other kids on their inferior "big wheels." I had mine for a few years; however, don't remember what ultimately happened to mine, but I recall the petal drive cables broke at some point. I'm sure my father eventually threw it out.

From: Young
Date: 04.27.2007 02:16
BILL, Keith and Alesandro,

Please, if you can, put the pictures on flickr or online service where you can share pictures, PLEASE?

It would be awesome to see them. OR, please shoot me an email @ yleedezign@hotmail.com.

Thanks and best!

From: Joe
Date: 05.02.2007 10:21
I am sooo glad I found info on the Cheetah here!!! For a variety of reasons (all noble), I am trying to find information on its cable-driven propulsion that I so enjoyed when I was a kid. Is there a way I can get copies of those pictures? Even better, anyone know what happeneed to Lakeside toys? I would love to get my hands on a schematic. I haven't started to search that, so maybe someone here can help me cut to the chase. It would be even better if I could get my hands on a Cheetah. I remember fondly outracing my big-wheeled playmates in the neighborhood. I eventually outgrew it (I was too tall to fit in the bright orange banana seat anymore), and we had to monitor the trashmen so that none of the kids in the neighborhood stole it - cause that would make the others jealous IIRC. I remember having to re-wrap those cables on occasion, but that thing beat the Big Wheel and Green Machine hands down!!!
Any help, guys? Thanks(especially copies of those pictures!!)
- Joe Lobarwilder@AOL.com
Lewisville, TX

From: Mike Berry
Date: 07.25.2007 16:55
My email is michaelberry67@yahoo.com. Please send me scans (or a picture of a picture) of any Cheetahs. They most be all gone. we rode the heck out of them. so many riding toys you can find of other eras... not ours!!

sigh

Mike

From: Renee
Date: 07.30.2007 11:36
I loved my Cheetah too! I also am looking for pictures of one -- actually, my mother has been looking for pictures. I don't seem to have any from my childhood, which we can't figure out at all. We can't imagine that pictures wouldn't have been taken of my favorite toy! If any of you who have posted that you have pictures are still following this post, could you please, please, please email your pictures of the Cheetah to me?
reneevanv@bellsouth.net

From: rand
Date: 08.14.2007 16:45
My younger brother had a Cheetah and it was the fastest ride ever. I could smoke kids on Big Wheels and every other type of pedal vehicle, even beat kids on bikes. I wore that baby out. Busted the cables. Loved it though. My younger brother wasn't much into riding it or bikes so Mom and Dad got it for him one Christmas. Since he didn't ride it, it was like I had my bike and the secret weapon Cheetah. Never has a more apt name been affixed to a product. I would love to have one for my five year old.

From: Dawson
Date: 09.05.2007 23:22
I had a Cheetah growing up in the 70's as well. I can confirm that this was the fastest thing on the block at that age because my friends on their bikes were unstable and were always shocked at getting beat by my "tricycle". Forget racing the Big Wheel. It was no contest for my Cheetah. I am also looking for pictures of this unit or even if there is a manufacturer who is still or willing to make it again. It would be great for my daughter.

From: Jerry
Date: 09.08.2007 14:08
Hi all:

Just to let eveyone know, I do have a vintage Eldon Cheetah available. It is pretty good shape and is still totally rideable. It is one cool item. Any interest in it?

From: CobraT1
Date: 09.18.2007 00:03
Hi Jerry,

I'm interested. Do you have any photos?

From: alfred
Date: 09.26.2007 14:49
Crazy, I had a Cheetah as a kid too. I've never come across anyone else who had actually heard of one. Man, do I miss that ride.

From: mike
Date: 10.14.2007 19:37
Any links to cheetah pics (or the tv ad) would be greatly appreciated.

From: Joe
Date: 10.26.2007 14:48
Jerry very interested about the vintage Cheetah you have
Have you sold it yet? I would like to purchase still available. Please let me know @ jj_white12@hotmail.com

Thanks

From: MonkeyDudeSF
Date: 10.30.2007 03:47
here's a
pic of my cheetah from the 70s. Enjoy!

I remember it pretty much the same way everyone else does. The best damn thing on 3 wheels I ever knew. :)

From: Shawn
Date: 11.30.2007 00:18
I had a Cheetah in the 70's. I remember seeing the comercials of the kid slamming the pedals and spinning a 720 to a stop. It's all I could think about for months, I Had to have one! So I begged my mom for Christmas and asked Santa (he was a little confused about my Cheetah request). That Christmas I didn't get it, I was expecting it to be under the tree, but no Cheetah. I was bumed, and mopped around for a few days. But my birthday was a few days away so I had a second chance. I discovered it on my birthday when I went downstairs and found my older brother screwing it together. I remember it clearly because I flipped-out and started screeming, and I guess he was startled because he slipped the screwdriver into his index finger! He started screeming too. That Cheetah was the best thing ever! Like everyone remembers, it was fast! I had no trouble keeping up with my brothers Stingray, and could go miles on the thing. It could be considered the first recumbent bycycle. I actualy burned-out the drive mechanism on it within a couple weeks, so my mom to it back and argued with the store manager to give us a new one (in those days taking stuff back for exchange or a refund wasn't easy). I got the second one, which was great because the hard plastic wheels were new (I had smoked the wheels on the first one from so many spins, they had flat spots). About that time they paved a new culdesac next to our home. It was kind of a clover shape cudesac with a slight slope to it. My cheetah would screem on that new pavement, I'm sure I got up to 25mph on the thing! I went so fast with the pedals that the return spring in the wheel hub broke. My dad was able to fix it, but it was never the same. If I went anywhere near fast, the drive cables would slip off the spring hub, and he would have to fix it again. I still rode it around and all the kids thought it was the coolest. Eventually, my mom backed over the front forks and wheel with the car. My brother straightened out the forks, but the wheel was bent like a potato chip! I still rode it even then, but it looked more like a clown vehicle at this point. Anyway, I've been looking on the net for any trace of the Cheetah, and came across this site. I would like to find a picture too, or even better, a working Cheetah. I don't know why they don't bring this back.

Dr Toy - The Cheetah

http://www.drtoy.org/ask_drtoy/ask_drtoy_p_to_r.html

RIDING TOY - CHEETAH - 1970's

I was wondering if you can tell me anything about a 1970's toy called a "Cheetah" (i.e. who made it, where can I find one, etc.). This toy was a red three wheel pedal trike. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Tom

Another Cheetah riding toy from Dr Toy

http://www.drtoy.org/ask_drtoy/ask_drtoy_2006_04.html

RIDE ON - TYPE OF BIG WHEEL
pictures of ride on "cheetah"

Cheetah found at MousePad...

http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/archive/index.php/t-46084-p-3.html

Black Pearl
08-12-2005, 11:30 AM

Okay, some I forgot:
My beloved Atari 2600 - (may it rest in pieces)
Wacky Packs - Those baseball card like packs that parodied everyday household items.
Green Machine - Kind of like a Big Wheel, but faster and more apt to flip over in the street.
Cheetah - It was kind of like a Big Wheel, but it had long forks and a skinny little tire in the front....Very fast, if I recall correctly.
Mattel Hand Held Football - I must have ran a hundred thousand yards with those little red blips.
Stompers - Little, battery powered 4X4's.
Jaws Game - Kind of like operation except for the fact that you had Jaws snapping his grill at you when you messed up, instead of a buzzing board.
Rubiks Cube - Lets be honest. How many of us either peeled the stickers off or just completely took it apart?
Nerf Footballs - My first broken bone was my pinkie, off of a dead on catch of one of those.
Lite Brite - My daughters got one of them too, they haven't changed at all.

Cheetah found at Zedheads...

http://www.zedheads.com/comments.aspx?linkid=5036

nature223 [87] on Friday, November 16, 2007 3:47:59 PM
quote commenthttp://www.liberalsmustdie.com/

I thought the cheetah was cool growing up...
kinda like the green machine but the rear wheels drove by a cable pull arrangement,then when you hit the bottom pedal travel it locked the wheel...

Cheetah found on MetaFilter

BYOBW means Bring You Own Big Wheel

http://www.metafilter.com/28642/BYOBW

Sorry, ROU, the Cheetah was badder by far. I can't find an image on the web, but they were designed like a three-wheeled chopper--extended front forks, low seat between the back wheels. The rider propelled himself by pushing pedals that pulled cables out of some sort of rotary turbine in the axle. It screamed. Although the Green Machine handled better, the Cheetah was faster. I think they stopped making them in the early 70s because too many kids were getting smeared.
posted by squirrel at 12:21 PM on September 30

The Cheetah riding toy from Road Bike Review...

May 10, 2001 8:04 PM

http://archive.roadbikereview.com/04/0EE9159D.php

Hey I had a Cheetah...remember those? KidAtHeart

Knowing my father it was probably a cheap knockoff of the GreenMachine. IF he only knew how much my bike(s) costs.

The Cheetah - from Feeling Retro...

This memory was added on: March 24,2007
http://www.feelingretro.com/toys/Ride-On-Toys/big-wheel.php

This is soooo cool!! I had a Big Wheel when I was 4 with the brake lever on the right side. You could do power slides all day long. then I got "The Cheetah". That thing was SUPER fast with cables and spring loaded hubs. The next was "Green Machine" Dang.... Those were the days. I still have scars on my head from those.

Christopher Binns
05/17/68
motocrispy@yahoo.com

Another from "In the 00s"...

Subject: The Cheetah
Written By: Brent Simmons on 3/10/2001 at 11:20 p.m.

I was wondering if anyone had information regarding "The Cheetah" riding toy that is refernceed on the first page of this site. Any info would be great.

Thanks

From in the 00s: Cheetah Maker

Subject: Cheetah riding toy
http://www.inthe00s.com/archive/inthe70s/bbs0/webBBS_640.shtml
Written By: Sunny on 10/19/2000 at 10:55 a.m.

PLEASE HELP ME FIND MAKER OR ACCESS TO THE CHEETAH RIDING TOY OF THE 70'S. DESPERATE.

From Ask Dr Toy June 2006

BIKE - CHEETAH
http://www.drtoy.org/ask_drtoy/ask_drtoy_2006_06.html

Do you know anything about the 1975 "CHEETAH" bike?

Cheetah comments from Fadwiki

Cheetah
From Fadwiki (http://fads.wikia.com/wiki/Cheetah)...

I had a Cheetah in the 70's. I remember seeing the comercials of the kid slamming the pedals and spinning a 720 to a stop. It's all I could think about for months, I Had to have one! So I begged my mom for Christmas and asked Santa (he was a little confused about my Cheetah request). That Christmas I didn't get it, I was expecting it to be under the tree, but no Cheetah. I was bumed, and mopped around for a few days. But my birthday was a few days away so I had a second chance. I discovered it on my birthday when I went downstairs and found my older brother screwing it together. I remember it clearly because I flipped-out and started screeming, and I guess he was startled because he slipped the screwdriver into his index finger! He started screeming too. That Cheetah was the best thing ever! Like everyone remembers, it was fast! I had no trouble keeping up with my brothers Stingray, and could go miles on the thing. It could be considered the first recumbent bycycle. I actualy burned-out the drive mechanism on it within a couple weeks, so my mom to it back and argued with the store manager to give us a new one (in those days taking stuff back for exchange or a refund wasn't easy). I got the second one, which was great because the hard plastic wheels were new (I had smoked the wheels on the first one from so many spins, they had flat spots). About that time they paved a new culdesac next to our home. It was kind of a clover shape cudesac with a slight slope to it. My cheetah would screem on that new pavement, I'm sure I got up to 25mph on the thing! I went so fast with the pedals that the return spring in the wheel hub broke. My dad was able to fix it, but it was never the same. If I went anywhere near fast, the drive cables would slip off the spring hub, and he would have to fix it again. I still rode it around and all the kids thought it was the coolest. Eventually, my mom backed over the front forks and wheel with the car. My brother straightened out the forks, but the wheel was bent like a potato chip! I still rode it even then, but it looked more like a clown vehicle at this point. Anyway, I've been looking on the net for any trace of the Cheetah, and came across this site. I would like to find a picture too, or even better, a working Cheetah. I don't know why they don't bring this back.

I had one of these when I was a kid and it was probably the best thing I had up to 6 years old. I would love to find one for my child now. Are they still made? Do you know where I could look at one to get a good enough idea how to make it if they're not made anymore? Thank you


I was wondering if you had a picture of the Cheetah. It was my favorite toy when I was a kid. I can't find a pic anywhere on the net.

Yes, the Cheetah chopper rocked. It did smoke everything else and it's what helped me love racing and motorsports. That winning feeling at a young age was great (although I had an unfair advantage and felt a little bad for the big wheel kids). Who did make it? There must be someone who has a picture of one. We need to bring that thing back!

It was alot like a chopper bike. It was built low to the ground, with one small tire in the front and two wide, plastic tires in back. You reclined in the seat and two pedals were in front of you. When you "pumped" each pedal alternately, the bike built up speed - a lot of speed! Pushing forward on both pedals at once would slam on the brakes, allowing the rider to skid and spin around.

Please forgive this note as it is not to add anything to the list but instead to thankyou for listing the Cheetah ride toy. I have searched the internet just wondering if there was anything on my favorite toy as a child in the 70's. The Cheetah was THE ride toy in my "hood" and nothing, not a big wheele, not the green machine NOTHING could touch it. I loved that thing with all my heart and you're description brought back memories I had lost. Thank you so much for helping my trip thru the past by remembering the best toy a kid ever had.

Cheetah riding toy picture

Below is a picture a Cheetah riding toy. Way faster than a Big Wheel or a Green Machine...



This is not me and not a picture of anyone I know. I found it on the W3 somewhere.)