The Gendron Manufacturing Company, based in Toledo, Ohio, was founded by Peter Gendron (1844–1911). At the age of 21, in 1865, Gendron left his father’s wagon works in Saint-Ours, Quebec, and moved to Ohio, where he found work as a pattern maker for Toledo Novelty Works. By 1871, he had established his own business.
In 1874, the inventive young French-Canadian received a patent for a lightweight, wire-spoke wheel he had designed. This wheel quickly proved to be more durable and far superior to the heavy, solid wooden wheels of the time. Gendron also incorporated ball bearings into the hub, reducing wear on the wheel as it rotated on the axle. In 1880, he founded the Gendron Wheel Company, installing his invention on a range of products, from baby buggies and doll carriages to wagons and wheelchairs. The first vehicles to use the Gendron wheel were the large adult tricycles of the 1800s.
The Gendron Manufacturing Company remained a major player in the Canadian bicycle market until 1899, when it sold its cycle works to CCM. Afterward, the company shifted its focus to automobiles. By 1920, Gendron had become the world’s largest manufacturer of children’s pedal cars, designed to mimic the full-sized automobiles of the day. Sold under the Pioneer name, the Gendron brand became synonymous with high-quality pedal cars, featuring cylindrical rear gas tanks, toolboxes, imitation cranks, and nickel trim.
In 1941, the company ceased production of children’s vehicles but continued manufacturing wheelchairs and other hospital equipment.
In 2020, Graham-Field acquired Gendron, Inc., to complement the offering of various healthcare seating solutions for both at home and in the facility.
Today we are proud to still be producing niche wheelchairs that are strong and robust to support up to 850 pounds and proudly built here in the U.S. While the days of solid wooden wheels and wire spokes are long gone, the Gendron quality manufacturing that customers have known for years remains.
To see our complete Gendron offering visit us at www.gendroninc.com
