Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-10-30
BABY CARRIAGES.


American Manufacturers Sending Them
All over the world.
There has been o large amount OF
evolution in baby carriages in The
course Of the last few years and the
fttest has survived without much Of a
struggle. When children We're not
considered OF much importance a two
wheeled machine after the model of the
Zone Hoss Shay was thought good
enough for them. The body OF the
carriage was a plain square box and it
was mounted on two large wheels. The
tongue stuck out in front and had an
iron rod attached at the center to sup
port the weight OF the vehicle when not
in motion. Forty years ago no other
form Of carriage vas seen in this
country. The original carriages were
imported from England and the few
manufacturers here followed them
closely. They We're cheap affairs and
nearly all were without springs. The
babies had to sit upright in them, and
it was not an uncommon thing, when
the machine was at full speed and
struck a stone, for the little innocent
to get a tumble to the ground. There
was little profit in the business then.
The prices were low, people generally
preferred to carry a child than 10 trun-
die it, and there were comparatively
few carriages in use. But when chill
dren begin to be thought more of on the
principle that every boy might be a fu-
ture President, carriage manufacturers
exhausted theiringenuity to render the
little ones comfortable. The old gig
was laid on the shelf, and a four
wheeled carriage was turned out on
springs. 1t was made so that the child
could lie down and kick Its heels with
the spirit of a free-born subject. Aftel
the comfort of the child had been Sc
cured a season of ornamentation set in
and improvements of various kinds fol
lowed.
With the advance in the beauty ant
luxury of the carriages has come a grea
increase in the demand for them. NJ
family is now complete without a ear
riage for the baby. The child who doe
not own a carriage. ever if it is only
soap-box on solid wooden wheels, mus
be poor indeed. Nice-looking carriage
are found even in cheap tenemen
houses. People who can afford it pa.
high prices for carriages. One manu-
facturer reports the top figure of 1915
} This carriage was somewhat large
} than the usual size, and was tittc
up with the most expensive plush
: with gold trimmings. 1t had q can
. opy Of lace and gold braid and wa
, made on a special order from Chi
cago. A 500 carriage is not
+ novelty. Many are sold at this figure
s but the average price is under 500. 4
good carriage can be got for $50, and
It fair one for $40. Below this price tn
= wood end trimmings are general
:, limitations. There are $40 carriage
r and some are sold for less, but they al
a not worth the money and Dol brea
down. Carriages for twins are mac
IS Of double size, at an advance
n about fifty per cent. in the price. Or
le dealer had a carriage made to no
h triplets about ten years ago as a cur
osity. 1t was sold a month ago to
&c man living at Dayton, o., who is ii
r, fortunate possessor Of three of q kin
r, The expectation Of baby carriages
large. For this trade the cheap al
~ medium grades are used. They a
he sent to every quarter Of the globe, al
~ the dusky son of q Prince in Madags
car can besport himself in a New 70
n. carriage as well as the little FIJI
avenue a%ristocrat. The trade is gro
ing both at home and abroad, and Il
IS, country leads the world in the sly
w and quality Of carriages made. !.
Carriages have been made of
e. many odd designs. Jingling bel
musical sounds, limitations Of birds a
I'd animals have been producedi in %carriat
by the aid OF mechanical applianc
nv They never have taken well or been
demand. The last form Of carriage
at fitted with adjustable wheels and ro'
ds ers SO that IL can be used as a cradle
uc will. II has not been put on the mar
ia vet, but It Is expected that there will
n ready sale for it.-M /. Tribune.