When it came time to purchase a high chair my wife and I decided on a Svan, not only for its small footprint and sleek look, but also for its multi-faceted nature. The ability to serve not only as a baby's first high chair but also as a toddler's chair, a child's chair and even an adult stool is impressive. But check out this antique high chair that converts into, of all things, a type of stroller.
This chair is at my father-in-law's house, and his partner Pam purchased it at an antique shop over forty years ago for her two kids. My own daughter uses it whenever we visit, and with the addition of a pillow behind her and my belt looped around to hold her in, it still works just fine. I was always taken with the intricate woodwork and complicated bracing system beneath the seat, and the wheels certainly intrigued me. But I had no idea it dropped down into two lower positions and used to be rolled around like a stroller.
I think it looks like the stylized skeleton of a Victorian soap box derby car. Pam assures me it scoots around very easily and that some other ones she has seen even include handles, essentially turning the high chair into a stroller. Fascinating.
Has anyone else out there come across or used a high chair similar to this one? If you'd like to see more examples like this one you can do a browser search for "antique high chair stroller".
(Images: Carrie McBride)
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very cool.
That's pretty impressive.
Oh my gosh! When I was pregnant with our first daughter, my MIL and her husband, both Civil War antique buffs, found one if these and brought it home, expecting us to use it when we were there. They proudly showed us how it converted from high chair to stroller and I immediately thought "That thing looks like a death trap! I would never let my baby sit in that!" I about choked on my lunch when I saw this post - I've never seen another one of these crazy contraptions! You're braver than I am for actually using it :)
My mom has one that is equally unsafe and ever single grandchild has slipped out and fallen on their head "because their parents weren't watching them." Yeah, thanks but no thanks. We bring our booster with us.
"stroller" is pushing it ---- its a chair with wheels
Ah, now I know why only 7 out of 13 of my great-grandmother's siblings survived past the age of 2.
That thing looks like a torture device.
I do agree that it will take some modifications for the child not to slip under, but I think it's a cool idea. Just needs a bit of a tweak.
Think of it as a steampunk prototype of modern chairs, and it's very cool!!
Have seen ones that convert into a baby walker + a child's chair and table. i.e. -
http://forsale.oodle.com/view/antique-convertible-highchair-1950s/2939863101-pomona-ca/
Love this. Could well be my all-time favorite post (except that I'm stubbornly holding out for The One that is not rifled with fear or snarky remarks *sigh*) Never come across or used a high chair similar to this one but you can bet that if I stumble across one in my adventures I will own it. AND I will use it for its intended purpose when the opportunity presents itself. Thanks.
We used an antique high chair with our kid, he never fell out. Actually we took off the tray and still use it now as a booster seat, works well.
My parents have a similar chair that was my dad's grandmother's. In addition to the positions you show, the legs continue down until it converts into a rocking chair. Never seen one similar...thanks for sharing.
Very cool, but probably not up to codes/safety requirements. Don't sacrifice safety for looks, especially when it comes to kids.
That thing looks really creepy.
While I haven't seen one like that, my friend's father actually built a high chair that not only was a high chair but a seesaw one way and a bench/child's desk another.
The fact that I am drawn to things like this chair and "John Martin's Big Book" and the Volland Mother Goose is one of the reasons it's just as well that I never had kids.