City Kids Construct A Soapbox Racer On The Sidewalk

Unfortunately this news photo. provides no location except that it was labeled New York City. In addition there is no date, credit or caption. However the automobiles in the background and the style of clothing date this photograph from the mid-1930s.

A boy works on the wheel of a soapbox racer as the girl awaits the adjustment.

Money was scarce during the Great Depression This is one of the creative ways kids entertained themselves back then by building things from scrap material. The vehicle relies entirely on scrap lumber, a wooden crate, wire steering, and discarded wheels .

Soon one child would be sitting on the crate while the other would push their playmate along the sidewalk.

I know kids still build and race these types of cars throughout the United States. The vehicles today are a lot fancier than they were in the thirties,

In my entire life I have yet to see a homemade soapbox car on the streets or sidewalks or playgrounds of New York.