The Long-life Pushchair

West Ender · 24-05-2008, 21:45

We bought it in Birmingham, near where we lived, in 1965 when our eldest was 18 months old and had just acquired a baby brother, our Alan. It cost £6/10/-, quite a sum in those days, and was a Comfifolda with a cushioned seat, a rigid back that could drop backwards a bit (for a snooze) and a detachable folding hood and apron. It would fold flat for travelling by car or bus and it was sturdy.

Our Jo used it for a couple of years then it was passed on to her brother. After he finished with it my nephew was born, in Blackburn, so it went to him on long loan. When Neil was 3 his childminder's daughter came over from Canada for 3 months so the pushchair was lent to her for her small son, then my sister-in-law's cousin had a baby girl and borrowed it for a couple of years. In 1975 we had our Nik and when she was a month old, in January 1976, we moved from Durham to Lymm. As soon as we did my brother brought the pushchair, still in very good condition, back from Blackburn. Once out of the "big pram" Nik used it for a couple of years.

It then spent a year or two hanging on a hook, folded flat, in the garage but was brought out, occasionally, for use by neighbours who had visiting small children and for 6 months by a neighbour who said she couldn't find anything as good for her little girl. Eventually its first occupant, Jo, got a job delivering the Warrington Midweek Guardian. What better vehicle to carry that heavy sack of papers? Comfifolda fitted the bill. It was still hanging up when Jo's son, Peter, was born in 1985. He had a rather posher buggy to ride in but he went in the old pushchair a couple of times when he stayed with us, alone, as a toddler

It must have been about 1992 when I looked at it, one day, with a critical eye. The solid rubber tyres were looking distinctly worn and the white-painted metal parts had chips in the paintwork. It had to go. This was in the days when dustbin men would take any rubbish you left out for them so, one Saturday evening, I put it on the drive ready for collection the following Monday. When we got up the next day - it had gone! I've no idea who took it or for what purpose. I like to think it may, after a lick of paint and some new tyres, have served some other small child. Perhaps it formed the base for a "trolley" - the things young boys used to make and ride in (and my late husband knocked his front tooth out in when he was 11). We had had it over 25 years and, however it ended its days, it had quite a history.

Has anyone else had any similar item that was so well used and stood the test of time?

BERNADETTE · 24-05-2008, 22:04

I doubt very much anybody has a story of something lasting that long but will be prepared for a surprise

Mick · 25-05-2008, 06:10

This has already been on site have a look at the link

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...nce-34181.html

mrskitty · 25-05-2008, 07:29

Stories like that are brill but its so sad when the item eventually have to go

My nan has toys that my mum n her siblings played with,then they got used when my nan did child minding,then they got played with by me and my 9 cousins when we were young n now they are getting used buy our children.....These days i think manufacturers dont make things to last-cheaper to make and means you have to buy it all again...more money for them all round.
Hopefully when my nan and grandad pass away il get my hands on a few of the things before they get thrown away....some people dont see value in 'old clutter'