Antique Arcade Cast Iron Pole Trailer Carrier #2364 7, 1930s

This pole trailer was likely made by the Arcade Manufacturing Co. (Freeport, IL) during the 1930s. It is made of cast iron (tested with magnet), painted red, and has hard black rubber tires. It is about 4 3/4 inches long and 2 3/8 inches wide. It was meant to carry a facsimile of a telephone pole, but this piece is sometimes also called a log carrier. It is usually attributed to Arcade, and the number and design seem appropriate, but it is sometimes listed as made by Hubley, although the Hubley pole carrier had a somewhat different design. While it has wear and some paint loss, overall it is in great condition for its age.

Arcade was founded in 1885, and was a maker of small cast iron machinery for home use, notably coffee grinders. They also made many different types of cast iron toy vehicles, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1946, Arcade was purchased by the Pittsburgh-based Rockwell Manufacturing Company.