Historic Treasure of the Week - July 7, 1991
By Helen F. Mitchell
Vigo County Historical Society
Historic Treasure of the Week - July 7, 1991
By Helen F. Mitchell
Vigo County Historical Society
Dandy dolly carried in gig, sulky or pram
One has only to look at the toy catalogs of years past to see that doll carriages were among the most popular of toys for little girls.
They were produced in various designs and sizes and had many different names.
The carriage featured as the historical treasure of the week probably was referred to as a "gig." It was made to be pulled rather than pushed.
It is constructed of wood except for the small metal stand in the front and the covering of the canopy which has long since disappeared.
The wheels are about 12 inches in diameter and have no rims. The larger carriages of this type had eight spokes in the wheels and the smaller ones had only six.
The box or body is painted black and the original stencil trim is visible.
Over the years doll carriages were made with two, three or four wheels. The number of wheels often determined the name. Early carriages were made of scraps from baby carriages.
The term "buddy" was not used until about 1920. Other names included gig, sulky, dandy, pram and cart.
The carriage had to be just the right size and of the latest style. It also had to be correct for the social level that was represented.
Manufacturers produced many types of clothing for the carriage trade. Hats and bonnets were considered essential. Other articles were cloaks and capes, boots and slippers, and a large selection of beautiful lap robes to keep dolly’s feet and legs warm in inclement weather.
The gig pictured here is displayed in the toy shop on the second floor of the museum.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.