Collectibles-General (Antiques)/baby carriage

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Expert: - 8/6/2011


Question
My family recently found an old baby carriage in our mom's attic.  It has a canvas body with metal label on the side F. A. Whitney Carriage Co.  I have found some research about the company.  But have been unable to find any pictures or history of when they made canvas buggy bodies rather than the rattan or reed.  Could our mother have made her own canvas body, or would the company have sold some?  We have found pictures of my two brothers in the carriage when they were very young, probably 1948.  Our father was born in 1915; could it have been used for him?  

Thank you for any information.

Joann

Answer
The only information I have on F.A. Whitney shows only reed but I can see where they might have used canvas, especially during WW1 era. I can't see your mom making the cover because working with canvas to fit the frame, I think, would be beyond an average person.
You might check with a Historical Society/ Museum in Mass. to see if they might have old catalogs which might list the canvas as an option. Also the Library of Congress might have catalogs.
 Good Luck,
   Rob

Collectibles-General (Antiques)

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