Allwin (England)
We are very pleased to announce that The Pram Museum has received a donation of this lovely 1961 Allwin Albany pram. This model has full-sized features, but, in keeping with the trends of the 1960s, it is smaller than traditional prams, and the bed is not as deep as those of its predecessors.
Its steel body has been modernized and streamlined to reflect changing tastes, but the hood is as large as traditional ones and the chassis is a classic style, though with modern spring suspension rather than the traditional (anad more fragile) leather straps.
As befits an English pram, the brake is activitated by an ivory-colored handle, and this particular pram has an anti-tip device that can be set during naps to provide extra stabilization.
The tradename, "Allwin", is embossed into the pusher trim; after all these years, it's very difficult to make it out, but sharp eyes can spot it. This Allwin is also marked with a label on the lower chassis. Chassis labels are easy to miss, especially if a pram has been stored for a long time, and a light hand is advised when cleaning, so that the label isn't missed, or worse, destroyed.
The pram body is connected by a single bolt on each side, which causes the bed to rock as it is pushed. This is delightful on flat terrain, but can become almost violent if the pram is pushed over a rough surface. Older babies might love that, but it's likely that a napping infant might be less thrilled.
This Allwin, like all of its cousins, is a pleasure to push, and glides along gracefully, requiring little effort thanks to its beautiful large wheels.
Allwin (or Alwin) prams were made in Tipton, Staffordshire, England, but we have been unable to discover much of the company's history
Our Albany was a very special donation to The Pram Museum, and we are grateful to have been entrusted with its care.
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