Prams Perfect Prams

hi, i just wondered if anybody could tell me anything about the dolls pram i have, apparently they are rare and sold by only the best shops and also they have them in the glasgow museum, thats all i know. my pram has been in family loft for over 30 years and is not in that bad a condition a little rusty,and one of the hoods is damaged, it is a twin dolls pram.i do have photos if anybody could help me.

toni at 06:26AM on Mar 18, 2010

hi, i just wondered if anybody could tell me anything about the dolls pram i have, apparently they are rare and sold by only the best shops and also they have them in the glasgow museum, thats all i know. my pram has been in family loft for over 30 years and is not in that bad a condition a little rusty,and one of the hoods is damaged, it is a twin dolls pram.i do have photos if anybody could help me.

Please see the attached: This is the information the Glasgow Museum of Transport sent me.  In addition to contacting the museum I have tried several prammy sources and appealed for information. This is the only information I have managed to find - Hope it helps?

"H. Churchill and Sons

A brief history researched and collated by Museum of Transport, Glasgow, 2009.

Original Company Outline

Founded: 1927 May 30th

13 Norfolk Street, Gorbals Cross

Founders: Robert Churchill and Son, Alf

Production: Hand built coach prams, 1-2 a week

Sales: Sales were through large wholesale outlets, none direct to

public, this included Scottish Co-operative Stores

New Premises: Company move to 90 Commerce Street in 1949. This

was after two other brothers joined the firm and

production was up to 50 prams a week. Premises listed

as 94-96 in Postal Directories from 1952-1979).

Production: Production grew with new location. Company employed 70

people in late 1960s and were producing nearly 10,000 prams a

year along with 3,000 dolls prams. However, Churchill was not

a large company compared to other pram producers (Wilson,

Pedigree)

Decline: Late 1960s and 1970s saw decline in company and production,

due to changes in pram/stroller ownership. More car ownership

meant changes is what was needed. It appears Churchill’s did

not adapt quickly enough to these changes. In addition,

Churchill’s was a hand built, local, small firm which could not

compete with the larger British companies or cheaper imported

prams/strollers.

Last pram built: September 1981

Company folded: March 1982, last pram builder in Scotland

Information above from: Daily Record, Thursday March 11th 1982, Glasgow Postal Directories, Correspondence with pram experts and Churchill family members

Information from former employees at Churchill’s (working in late 1960s)

- All pram frames and body work were hand made

-10 people worked on bodywork, 8 ladies worked on textiles, 3 people spray painting, 3 people construction and assembly

- Different painting stages meant that it took about 4 days to paint one pram

- A third of all Churchill pram paint colours supplied by Craig & Rose (based at Dixon Blazes, Glasgow)

- There would be about 20-28 bodies in the racks and about 10 dolls bodies waiting to be painted

- Made about 30 prams a day

- Used air guns, or staples, to build pram – made of thin plywood to bend easily. All designs were of plywood.

- Building was three/four stories high. Prams brought up by human chain to different floors. This had to go via the fire escape of the outside of the building. Everyone had to take part in moving prams. Bodies were built then put onto racks. Then once or twice a week when the weather was good the prams were moved outside

- Only the body work was made in house, wheels etc. supplied by other companies.

Comparisons to competition

toni at 06:26AM on Mar 18, 2010

hi, i just wondered if anybody could tell me anything about the dolls pram i have, apparently they are rare and sold by only the best shops and also they have them in the glasgow museum, thats all i know. my pram has been in family loft for over 30 years and is not in that bad a condition a little rusty,and one of the hoods is damaged, it is a twin dolls pram.i do have photos if anybody could help me.

Thats interesting information Sian xxxxx

I found your Churchill information very helpful as I have a baby carriage of that make.  I bought it in 1978 at a bankrupcy sale for 8 pounds but the shop price ticket on the pram was for 200 pounds!!  It is navy blue inside and out and was used for my nephew and then my own two babies and I still have it - waiting for grandchildren.  There was also another pram in the sale which was navy outside and white inside, that one went for 3 pounds.  I have never seen another one baby or dolls and I look everywhere for prams, so yes the pram is rare.

Janet Senneck at April 28, 2010 at 11:47 AM

I found your Churchill information very helpful as I have a baby carriage of that make.  I bought it in 1978 at a bankrupcy sale for 8 pounds but the shop price ticket on the pram was for 200 pounds!!  It is navy blue inside and out and was used for my nephew and then my own two babies and I still have it - waiting for grandchildren.  There was also another pram in the sale which was navy outside and white inside, that one went for 3 pounds.  I have never seen another one baby or dolls and I look everywhere for prams, so yes the pram is rare.

Janet, That's very interesting. Churchill prams were a top end pram so your price tag confirms this.  Did you get any booklets or information with the pram?  I understand from the mUseum that they have very little printed materials so they would be interested. Perhaps you would like to post your photo.  Sian

I'm not sure if anyone is still in this forum but I found it really helpfull as I have just inherited a doll pram from my mother in law and I think it may well be a Churchill.  She grew up in Glasgow so the timeline fits.  It is in extremely good condition only a few scrapes of paint.  Is there anyway to confirm this?