Elegant Doll Pram (RETIRED)

[QNPoohBear]

Samantha's Elegant Doll Pram was released in 1987 and retired with the archival of Samantha's collection in 2008. There are different variations which are described in the reviews.

Uncle Gard's birthday present for Samantha was a fine doll carriage that the Victorians called a "pram." Samantha's beautiful porcelain doll and her new teddy bear both fit inside, so she can push them through the park on sunny afternoons. As Uncle Gard would say, "Won't they look dandy?"


The 2004 to current version looks kind of shiny and plasticy. The older wooden one is really great. It is the perfect size for her teddy bear or doll and the right height for her to push. The wheels really move and she can turn corners. The wheels are made from real metal and rubber and are just like real baby carriage wheels of that time. The only downside to this beautiful pram is that it is very fragile! Dropping it or knocking it off a shelf causes the wheels to break or worse. This is a great piece for display and light play.
Grade: A



ETA: This pram does not belong to my Samantha, but I can forward questions about it to the original owner.

[sheltiesweetie2007]

Overall Grade: A

I have the wooden version of the pram and have no complaints with it. (I haven't seen the current version in person and am not sure how they compare.) It is sturdy and would hold up to play. If you decide to display it on a shelf, be careful because it can easily roll off!

Samantha's bear fits perfectly on the seat of the pram and leaves enough room for Clara to come for a ride too.	The metal for the handle goes all the way down the back and underneath the pram. It seems very secure and doesn't wobble around.
The metal frame is attached to the pram with a wood block and screw.	The stripes are green and metallic gold. This pattern is on both sides of the pram.

[dollsforadoll]

I like this! Its very pretty! I actually brought it all the way from NY to CA in a suitcase and it was fine! It never use accessories though so it just is for looks for me.

[Ayla]

This thing is very fragile. It did not survive my childhood. The spokes of the wheel detached (they seem plastic to me, my version was PM though) and then the wheel itself broke off I believe. But before that, it was a lot of fun to play with. I remember I had trouble keeping Clara posed in the pram while it was rolling around, though.

[Colonial Rose]

This set is just the pram, I got mine secondhand. My pram is made of wood, painted red, with green and gold stripes around the sides and a box seat inside it. The bottom has a brass plate covering it and the brass framework for the handle and wheels is attached to that, the handle is red painted wood. The wheels are metal and mine are double spoked, unlike most of the prams I have seen, which is why when I got it I thought it was a copy and the board agreed with that, they are also set farther forward, making the pram appear shorter. A second very careful search of eBay turned up a few prams (some in original packaging) that are identical to mine so now I know it is authentic. My pram has some dings in the wood and the plastic tires are a bit flattened and misshapen, but it is a nice piece. The pram isn't very durable as it seems to be easily chipped and the tires don't last, but it will look great with my antique doll and her doll (Samantha's Clara).


Here it is in use, you can kind of see part of a leather lining and seat cushion a previous owner made for it.

EDIT: Long after taking these pictures I decided Clara should sit in the seat of the pram. I took everything down to dust one day and discovered red marks on her hands where they had been touching the sides of the pram (and years after that remembered to update this review). Luckily the marks wiped off with a damp cloth, but be aware that the red can transfer and might potentially stain.

Mod edit to remove broken image links

[historical]

Below are some comparison photos between an early 1990s pram and a late 1990s pram

Left is early 1990s, right is late 1990s. The early 90s pram is double spoked and a good pound or two heavier than the late 90s one. Also the position of the front wheel is different. The wheels on the earlier edition feel like they are made of actual steel, whereas the later edition is a gold-covered light-weight plastic. The older edition is slightly taller in height than the later edition


Under carriage placement is different as well as one having a brass covered plate and the other not.


Mod edit to remove broken image links

[historical]

There are some differences in how these were made. The earlier edition was made of a heavy brass, the front wheel was extended further out, the handle was at a slightly higher position than the later edition and there is a gold/brass plate in the bottom (see second photo below). The carriage section of the later PC edition is still made of wood and pieces were still made of brass, but there is a noticeable difference in weight when you pick both up. The later PC one is much lighter than the earlier edition.



This and other reviews can be found on my website.


If the link doesn't work, just copy and paste this into your browser. thedollhouseproject.home.blog/2019/03/01/pleasant-company-comparisons-samantha/

[keeperofthepast]

A friend has this and its really sweet piece for display. Samantha can put her bear and doll in it quite nicely. It's made of wood and quite heavy and durable.