A doll's pram from years gone by

@JudyEv (364073)
Rockingham, Australia
October 15, 2025 7:28pm CST
Kerosene tins were once very common in Western Australia. Once emptied, the tins, which I think held four gallons, would be used for all sorts of purposes other than holding kerosene. They would be cobbled together to make cupboards and containers. In the photo, one has been fashioned into a doll’s pram. It was part of the display in the Westonia Museum. I don’t know how the wheels were made. Although it looks very battered now, I’m sure it looked much better when it was first made. I can imagine a little girl being thrilled to receive this. Bought toys were few and far between for most country children living around the turn of last century.
13 people like this
13 responses
@FourWalls (79440)
• United States
16h
That’s so neat. Those were the days when things were repurposed because of limited resources (or money, or both). There was a coal mining museum here that had flour sack dresses on display (after using the flour, the flour sack would be used to make clothes). Our great-grandparents were extremely resourceful!!!
5 people like this
@Fleura (32874)
• United Kingdom
14h
@JudyEv Yes they printed coloured patterns on the sacks to make it easier to use them as dress fabric.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (364073)
• Rockingham, Australia
16h
And I read somewhere that the company that made the flour sacks would sometimes put patterns/colours/flowers on the sacks so the clothes would look nicer. As you say, people back then were incredibly resourceful.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (50444)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18h
The wheel were cut using tin snips or wire cutters or something of the sort, same as the pram's arms would have been.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (364073)
• Rockingham, Australia
16h
That would certainly be one way to do it.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (485019)
• Italy
12h
I remember that my grandparents used Kerosene to heat their house. I am sure that this doll's pram was pretty when it has been made years ago.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364073)
• Rockingham, Australia
12h
It would be nice to know the story behind it - whether it was made for Christmas or a birthday.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (485019)
• Italy
11h
@JudyEv - I agree, it's always interesting to know old stories behind common objects.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (53507)
• United States
19h
I would have loved it.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (364073)
• Rockingham, Australia
16h
When first made, it would have been so special.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (32874)
• United Kingdom
14h
It's more like a barrow than a pram, but yes, great re-use of what was available.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (364073)
• Rockingham, Australia
12h
It should have four wheels I guess but the hood suggests a pram.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (203390)
• United States
7h
Very creative. Waste not, want not.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (364073)
• Rockingham, Australia
6h
A lot of those sorts of tins were made into buckets just by adding a wire handle.
1 person likes this
• China
6h
It is a unique style of doll’s pram ! They utilized the emptied kerosene tins to the utmost extent.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364073)
• Rockingham, Australia
6h
Those old tins were put to a great many uses. Often a wire handle was attached and the tin then became a bucket.
@LeaPea2417 (38550)
• Toccoa, Georgia
2h
That's so interesting.
@wolfgirl569 (123616)
• Marion, Ohio
6h
That is cute
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364073)
• Rockingham, Australia
6h
Some child would have been thrilled with it.
1 person likes this
• United States
5h
That doll pram certainly is interesting. Amazing how they took those kerosene tins and repurposed them into a pram.
@Shiva49 (27555)
• Singapore
5h
Things like this will amuse some but it was precious in those days. I recall my childhood adjusting to the reality of those times. Felt grateful for the simplest of things that came my way.
@Ronrybs (21030)
• London, England
Just now
You've got to admire the inventiveness of people. I'd have no idea where to start and I haven't the tools. They were probably essential for life away from the cities
• United States
9h
That looks ancient
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (364073)
• Rockingham, Australia
6h
It would certainly be very old.
1 person likes this