One of our favorite correspondents wrote regarding this beautiful little pram:
I have attached a photo of a small (8 inch) doll stroller that I unearthed at a sale recently but although it has a label (Red Brand) Made in France I can’t seem to come up with any info or dates.
This lovely thing is a salesman’s model. In the heyday of prams, it made sense for salesmen to carry small versions; hauling even one full-size model around wasn’t really feasible, and what could evoke the charm of a full-size perambulator more than a miniature version? This model’s design is very typical of post-WWII prams, and undoubtedly dates from the late 1940s-1950s.
Our correspondent’s pram is especially nice because it includes the apron – an accessory often lost, even when it belongs to a full-sized pram. Here’s a close look at the hood arms and the apron attachment:
There are even little leather suspension straps on the chassis, just like the ones on a “real” pram:
The full-size version would have had buckles, of course, rather than a fixed strap; some concessions were necessary as a result of miniaturization. In spite of that, the detailing is quite impressive. Look at the piping on the hood, for example:
There were probably other models, from other companies, but, as of now, I haven’t seen any survivors that weren’t marked “Red” and “made in France”:
It’s interesting that this style of pram is utterly English, and, though the sample was made in France, the label is in English, suggesting that the salesmen in question were from Great Britain or the USA.
It’s likely that the actual prams delivered, once the sale was made, differed at least somewhat from the samples, as tends to happen once an order is placed. That’s often due to manufacturing variances, but, of course, buyers — whether retail or private — may also have been given the option of choosing from a range of custom colors. I do wonder, though, how many prospective customers fell in love with these tiny versions, and might have settled just as happily for them, rather than the full-sized ones.
Sorry, but your info is incorrect. This isn’t a salesman sample at all, but a miniature toy pram from the early 1960’s. It first appeared in the FAO Schwarz holiday catalog in 1961, and sold for several years. It also came in yellow. I’d love to have one for my 8″ Ginnette collection! (my info can be verified by the toy catalogs; I have the 1961 and 1962 FAO Schwarz & it’s in both)
Thanks for your comment, catlover52. It’s quite possible that both explanations are correct. An enterprising business person might have seen a market niche once sales for prams began to tumble and samples were no longer needed. This kind — and quality — of toy was perfect for the old FAO Schwarz.