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Nottingham Pram Company's vintage prams auctioned | Nottingham Pram Company's vintage prams auctioned |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A collection of vintage prams and memorabilia stretching back almost 150 years has been auctioned. | A collection of vintage prams and memorabilia stretching back almost 150 years has been auctioned. |
The Nottingham Pram Company made pushchairs and perambulators from a factory in the city. | The Nottingham Pram Company made pushchairs and perambulators from a factory in the city. |
All the items, including a Victorian pram made between 1880 and 1885, belonged to John Whitby, who ran the firm for 55 years. | All the items, including a Victorian pram made between 1880 and 1885, belonged to John Whitby, who ran the firm for 55 years. |
The 15 lots sold for £6,700, exceeding the expected £2,500 price tag. | |
Auctioneers said the collection was "a snapshot of a much-loved company" and was bought by various private collectors across the UK. | |
The family business was founded in the mid-19th Century by Mr Whitby's grandfather. | The family business was founded in the mid-19th Century by Mr Whitby's grandfather. |
More on this story and other news from Nottinghamshire | More on this story and other news from Nottinghamshire |
He took over in 1946, opening a shop on Goose Gate that sold the company's prams, which were manufactured on Alfreton Road, as well as treats for children, such as toys and comics. | |
Auctioneer Nigel Kirk, of Mellors and Kirk, said the Victorians were "very keen on prams". | Auctioneer Nigel Kirk, of Mellors and Kirk, said the Victorians were "very keen on prams". |
"Mr Whitby's father, a builder, and his grandfather were clearly men of considerable importance in Victorian and Edwardian Nottingham, of which they were both appointed freemen," he said. | |
"When he retired [in 2001], John Whitby had the foresight to carefully preserve everything connected with his grandfather's enterprise. | "When he retired [in 2001], John Whitby had the foresight to carefully preserve everything connected with his grandfather's enterprise. |
"For half a century the company was something of a Nottingham institution, selling not just prams but everything for the young child." | "For half a century the company was something of a Nottingham institution, selling not just prams but everything for the young child." |
The Victorian pram, which beat its estimate and sold for £590, has a "coach-built body" similar to the style used by the Royal Family to transport Princess Charlotte to her christening. | |
A painted wooden sign, which once hung outside the shop, was also auctioned, as well as catalogues, photographs, toys, comics, shop display material and World War Two posters and souvenirs. | |
Mr Kirk said: "Some of the items would not have been considered valuable in many people's eyes - for example the trade catalogues from the 1960s, 70s and even 1980s, might have been overlooked in a house clearance. | Mr Kirk said: "Some of the items would not have been considered valuable in many people's eyes - for example the trade catalogues from the 1960s, 70s and even 1980s, might have been overlooked in a house clearance. |
"However, these lots sold incredibly well, particularly to online bidders." | "However, these lots sold incredibly well, particularly to online bidders." |