The history of the stroller: Who invented the first stroller?
From the Victorian era to the 1960s, mothers used large and heavy strollers. Nowadays, a folding stroller is at the top of the list of gifts for anyone wanting to be a parent.
Every mom and dad wants to have a stroller that they can fold and carry under their arms. Because such an invention makes the life of parents easier.
William Kent is a pioneer in the business of designing strollers: William Kent (c. 1685 – 12 April 1748) was an English architect, landscape architect, painter and furniture designer of the early 18th century. He began his career as a painter, and became Principal Painter in Ordinary or court painter, but his real talent was for design in various media.
Unexpectedly, the inventor of the foldable stroller was Owen Maclaren (1907-1978), a retired test pilot who had previously designed landing gear and protective seals for Spitfire aircraft. It may sound strange that someone with this kind of career background invented a folding stroller. However, in order to develop a practical stroller, it is necessary to have knowledge about strong and light structures. And Maclaren's aviation experience is a boon for this kind of knowledge.
The first model of Maclaren, which weighed 3 kilograms, cost about 10 dollars. The weight of this model was lighter than the grandson of Maclaren. This stroller with an aluminum frame could be folded with just one hand. It was an extremely useful design, especially for parents who had to fold the stroller and take care of the baby. After improving its design in 1965, Maclaren began manufacturing these strollers at his home in Northamptonshire, England. By 1976, it was selling more than one and a half million strollers a year, most of which were imported abroad.
Owen Finlay Maclaren, MBE (26 May 1906 – 13 April 1978) was the inventor of the lightweight baby buggy with a collapsible support assembly and founder of the Maclaren company. He was born in Saffron Walden in Essex to Andrew Maclaren and Eva (née Friend). His father died in 1914. His family descended from the Clan MacLaren in Argyll. He attended Marlborough College and Blair Lodge Academy in Polmont, Falkirk. He studied at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he learnt to fly in Cambridge University Air Squadron, qualifying as a pilot in 1928.
Maclaren was awarded the rank of Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his achievements in both aeronautical engineering and transport design.