I now have a NEW UPGRADED WEBSITE, to view this please click on the following link
http://www.vintagepramfan.com/
The Website is not just about restoration, it is for all FANS OF VINTAGE PRAMS and I hope you will all get involved by leaving your comments on the site, making it an exciting place for us to discuss our prams, share ideas and generally chat about our prams.
The first post you will see if you click on this today is about prams in snowy weather! I thought as it is so hot today you might like to read about snow to cool you down!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
faded hood and apron
To prevent fading on your hood and apron, never leave it in direct sunlight for any length of time. On sunny days it is better to leave the hood down and put a canopy over to keep the sun off baby.
But what if the hood is already faded, what can you do? Well there are sprays available on E Bay which say they are for this purpose, but any shoe dye will do the job just as well. I would advise caution if you are going to use the pram for a baby as some of these dyes contain toxic chemicals, but if you leave the hood to dry thoroughly and make sure any odours have disappeared it may be okay, it is up to the individual.
I used a florist spray on an old hood just to see if that worked, it did the job well, these sprays are used for fabric floral arrangements and are cheaper than shoe dyes.
When spraying follow the instructions on the spray can and it is better to put on two thin coats rather than one heavy one, which will result in "runs". Make sure you spray in a well ventilated space and if you are indoors then protect flooring with newspaper, and also make sure you cover over the inside of the pram and the bodywork if you are spraying with the hood in place.
But what if the hood is already faded, what can you do? Well there are sprays available on E Bay which say they are for this purpose, but any shoe dye will do the job just as well. I would advise caution if you are going to use the pram for a baby as some of these dyes contain toxic chemicals, but if you leave the hood to dry thoroughly and make sure any odours have disappeared it may be okay, it is up to the individual.
I used a florist spray on an old hood just to see if that worked, it did the job well, these sprays are used for fabric floral arrangements and are cheaper than shoe dyes.
When spraying follow the instructions on the spray can and it is better to put on two thin coats rather than one heavy one, which will result in "runs". Make sure you spray in a well ventilated space and if you are indoors then protect flooring with newspaper, and also make sure you cover over the inside of the pram and the bodywork if you are spraying with the hood in place.
Friday, July 1, 2011
prams for a baby
If you are wanting a pram to use for a baby then you might be better to buy one that is already restored rather than take on a restoration project yourself. Restoring a pram is not a cheap project, especially if the hood and apron need replacing, as that could lead to the inner bed needing replacing too to match the new linings. Add to this the cost of rechorming and maybe new tyres, then the paintwork might need a respray, which will mean coachlines have to be painted on. All this takes time as well as money, it is no good thinking you can do this in a couple of weeks! So if you do want a pram for a new baby and are determined to take on a restoration project, leave yourself plenty of time and don't leave it until the month before the baby is due!!!!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Country wheels
If the chrome on your pram wheels is rusted you may like to have them done as "country wheels", this is where the rims look like they are painted instead of chrome. However, this is not achieved by using ordinary car paint, or other paints, that kind will not be durable enough so it is best to have them powder coated.
Prams made during WW2 all had painted wheels instead of chrome, and the same for the handles. But this was done in the factory using a heat process to "bake" the enamel onto the metal. If you just paint them the paint will flake off. Wheels especially will not be hard wearing if they are only painted, just imagine the amount of grit and grime they will have to cope with, they will be covered in scratches and chips in no time at all, so it is worth investing in having them powder coated.
This description of powder coating is taken from Wikipedia:
"Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and a powder coating is that the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. The coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a "skin". The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. Powder coating is mainly used for coating of metals, such as "whiteware", aluminium extrusions, and automobile and bicycle parts." For more information on this article check out this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder_coating
This is a link to a company specialising in powder coating http://www.powder-coatings.ltd.uk/, if you google "powder coating" you will be able to find more. Or ask around at local car body repair shops, they may also help with restoring your pram.
You can also have the pram chassis powder coated as this is much better than painting it. Powder coating is hardwearing and your pram will look as good as new.
Prams made during WW2 all had painted wheels instead of chrome, and the same for the handles. But this was done in the factory using a heat process to "bake" the enamel onto the metal. If you just paint them the paint will flake off. Wheels especially will not be hard wearing if they are only painted, just imagine the amount of grit and grime they will have to cope with, they will be covered in scratches and chips in no time at all, so it is worth investing in having them powder coated.
This description of powder coating is taken from Wikipedia:
"Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and a powder coating is that the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. The coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a "skin". The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. Powder coating is mainly used for coating of metals, such as "whiteware", aluminium extrusions, and automobile and bicycle parts." For more information on this article check out this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder_coating
This is a link to a company specialising in powder coating http://www.powder-coatings.ltd.uk/, if you google "powder coating" you will be able to find more. Or ask around at local car body repair shops, they may also help with restoring your pram.
You can also have the pram chassis powder coated as this is much better than painting it. Powder coating is hardwearing and your pram will look as good as new.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
pram straps and hood fabric
If you are restoring a pram and need new leather straps then look at this website http://classicalbabyprams.weebly.com
Jackie is an experienced prammie and sells the best quality leather straps I have found, highly recommended and reasonably priced for a top quality product. You can also buy hood and apron fabric from Jackie, again this is good quality and at a very good price. I have used both the straps and fabric and doubt you would find better anywhere.
Have a look at Classical Baby Prams and see some pictures of beautiful prams and read interesting articles. Well worth a few minutes of your time.
Jackie is an experienced prammie and sells the best quality leather straps I have found, highly recommended and reasonably priced for a top quality product. You can also buy hood and apron fabric from Jackie, again this is good quality and at a very good price. I have used both the straps and fabric and doubt you would find better anywhere.
Have a look at Classical Baby Prams and see some pictures of beautiful prams and read interesting articles. Well worth a few minutes of your time.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
coachbuilt prams with a modern look
I was talking to a young mother yesterday and the subject came around to modern prams and the advantages of a coachbuilt. The girl (she was only a girl compared to me, being in her 20's) said she loved the coachbuilt prams but "my husband would never be seen walking out with one so old fashioned". I told her it is possible to have them painted in different designs and colours if that would appeal to him, suddenly she seemed keen to get one. Now although I hate to see prams painted gaudily, does it matter if it gets young parents to make a vintage pram the one they choose instead of having their baby scrunched up in a modern pram? I think we now have another convert to coachbuilts, albeit not in the true traditional livery, but it means another pram is being saved. Not only that, but we all know young people are fashion addicts, so it could be that these prams will become very desirable if they are seen as being "trendy" instead of "old fashioned".
Monday, June 27, 2011
drop toe prams - again!!
Over the weekend I found, quite by accident, an event at Sledmere House near Driffield in Yorkshire, it was a "Nostalgia" event and lo and behold the first thing I saw when walking in was a beautiful coachbuilt pram!!!! The lady who was pushing it told me she had bought it secondhand from its original owner and used it for her granddaughter. The pram was a Marmet, sorry don't know the model, and was a drop toe model. It was in lovely condition. I told the lady I had an interest in restoring old prams and she queried as to whether they should be restored or left completely original. I had to agree that if the pram is in good condition then it is best to leave it but if the chrome is rusty or the bodywork dented and scratched these do need sorting out. The same with the hood and apron, especially on the older prams with the merimo fabric.
The hood on my Wedgwood is torn where the fabric was thin, due probably to the effects of the sun, it was not faded but in the leaflet it does state the hood and apron on this model was "fadeless". So even if your hood is not faded, the material could be thin, sunlight rots fabric in time.
As I don't want to replace the hood and apron (the apron is fine) I have decided to repair it myself. By removing the stitching that joins the hood and its lining together, there is a piece of material folded under that I am able to use if I cut off a piece. So if you have the same problem with a small repair then look under the hood lining, you will need to remove the hood lace first.
The hood on my Wedgwood is torn where the fabric was thin, due probably to the effects of the sun, it was not faded but in the leaflet it does state the hood and apron on this model was "fadeless". So even if your hood is not faded, the material could be thin, sunlight rots fabric in time.
As I don't want to replace the hood and apron (the apron is fine) I have decided to repair it myself. By removing the stitching that joins the hood and its lining together, there is a piece of material folded under that I am able to use if I cut off a piece. So if you have the same problem with a small repair then look under the hood lining, you will need to remove the hood lace first.
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