This beautiful baby buggy is hanging in the studio and was purchased at the Alameda antique Fair. I just love the style, it's endearing crinkled and wholly worn top and imaging young girls putting their favorite dolls inside and pushing them throught the park on a spring day. I was inspired to research the history of the stroller for anyone who is interested read on....
William Kent developed an early pram in 1733.
[1] He was a garden architect in England who had become well known for his work. In 1733, the Duke of Devonshire asked Kent to build a means of transportation that would carry his children. Kent obliged by constructing a shell shaped basket on wheels that the children could sit in. This was richly decorated and meant to be pulled by a goat or small pony. By 1840, the baby carriage became extremely popular. Queen Victoria bought three carriages from Hitchings Baby Store.
[2]
The carriages of those days were built of wood or wicker and held together by expensive brass joints. These sometimes became heavily ornamented works of art. Models were also named after royalty, Princess and Duchess being popular names, as well as Balmoral and Windsor.
In June 1889,
William Richardson patented his idea of the first reversible stroller. The bassinet was designed so it could face out or in towards the parent. He also made structural changes to the carriage. Until then the axis did not allow each wheel to move separately, Richardson’s design allowed this, which increased maneuverability of the carriages.
As the 1920s began, modern baby carriages were now available to all families. They were also becoming safer, as new features like larger wheels, brakes, deeper prams, and lower, sturdier frames began to appear.
In 1965,
Owen Maclaren, an aeronautical engineer, worked on complaints his daughter made about traveling from England to America with her heavy pram. Using his knowledge of aeroplanes, Maclaren designed a stroller with an aluminum frame and created the first true umbrella stroller. He then went on to found
Maclaren which manufactured and sold his new design. The design took off and soon “strollers” were easier to transport and used everywhere.
Since the 1980s, the stroller industry has developed with new features, safer construction and more accessories.
What a day!! It started off a little shaky at 7am when we went to start "Daisy"(new old truck) and she wouldn't start. It took about 8 tries and she finally got going which was a HUGE relief as the sole purpose of buying her was to haul stuff from the alameda to the studio. Also just to let you know I had quite a stressful day Saturday as I brought Daisy home from the shop where I spent $1,500 on brakes. That wasn't even the stressful part, I came home to drop off the dog and ran inside only to lock the keys in the truck while it was still running in the driveway. OUCH. The driver door automatically locks when you shut the door which makes this a normal problem except that I hadn't made sure the passengar door was unlocked because I has JUST got it home from the shop 2 seconds before. Anyway the tow truck man came and $55.00 later got it unlocked. So I was feeling some hesitation on if Daisy was going to actually cowgirl up and get us to the alameda. But she rose to the occasion and pulled through on her maiden voyage and she loved it. She really loved all the attention and admiration she got and I really loved how much stuff she holds!! We filled up 2 carts full with windmills, armoires, tables, baby cots, deer horns, cow hides and whatever we could fit in the back. Elias was a Godsend in helping us load and secure everything so I was road worthy and we made to Benicia without dropping a thing!! Woo hoo!! Thanks Elias, hope you read The Artist Way!!!
