Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

INFANT CAR SEAT

Date Range From

1980

Date Range To

1998

Materials

PLASTIC,

No. Pieces

1

Height

46.8

Length

59.6

Width

38.5

Description

RIGID PLASTIC FORM IS CREAM COLOURED WITH PLASTIC COVERED PADDING ON SEAT. PADDING IS PATTERNED WITH RED HEARTS AND GREEN SLASHES. BOTTOM PORTION OF PADDING CAN BE FOLDED AWAY FROM FORM. BROWN NYLON SEATBELT WITH TWO BROWN PLASTIC FASTENERS, AND TWO METAL SLIDERS. SEATBELT IS ATTACHED TO FORM THROUGH TWO PARALLEL OPENINGS IN PLASTIC PADDING AND THREADED THROUGH LOOP ON THE FRONT LIP OF THE FORM. TOP EDGE IS STAMPED, “032186” AND BOTTOM IS STAMPED, “A86810.” TAG FOLDED UNDER PADDING READS, “MATÉRIAU NEUF SEULEMENT NEW MATERIAL ONLY, CONFORMÉMENT À LA LOI SUR LES MATÉRIAUX DE REMBOURRAGE ET LES ARTICLES REMBOURRÉS, QUEBEC 69, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STUFFING AND UPHOLSTERED AND STUFFED ARTICLES ART, PERMIS – PERMIT QUÉ NO: 0180-114, CONTENU – CONTENT, MOUSSE DE POLYURETHANE POLYURETHANE FOAM, LES INDUSTRIES DOREL INC.”

Subjects

LAND TRANSPORTATION-ACCESSORY

Historical Association

HEALTH SERVICES

TRANSPORTATION

History

AT THE TIME OF DONATION PATRICIA SASSA (DONOR) WROTE TO THE COLLECTIONS STAFF AND SAID, “SINCE MY RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING IN JUNE, 1998; I ACQUIRED THIS INFANT SAFETY CAR SEAT WITH THE HOPE OF BECOMING A GRANNY SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE AS MY SON HAD BEEN MARRIED AT LEAST 5 YEARS AT THE TIME. THE HEALTH UNIT RENTED THESE “CHRYSLER LOVE SEATS” TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE TO FAMILIES THAT CHOSE NOT TO PURCHASE THEM AT HIGHER PRICES SINCE THEY WERE USED ONLY TO 20 LBS. HOWEVER THE LIFE OF THE SEAT WAS ONLY 10 YEAR AFTER USE; ESPECIALLY THOSE LEFT IN THE VEHICLES AND EXPOSED TO SUN AND VARYING TEMPERATURES. THEY WERE THEN DESTROYED UNDER THE RULES OF TRANSPORT CANADA OR THE MANUFACTURER. SOME MANUFACTURERS HAVE SINCE CHANGED THE EXPIRY DATES TO AS EARLY AS 5 YEARS. ALTHOUGH THE EXACT YEAR THE H.U. BEGAN RENTING IS UNKNOWN, THEY DISCONTINUED THEIR RENTAL SYSTEM IN 1994, THEREFORE THE NEWER ONES WERE BEING SOLD TO FAMILIES. THAT IS WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ONE THAT INCLUDED NEW STRAPPING. MY INTEREST IN DONATING THIS MODEL IS THAT IT APPEARS TO ME AS ONE OF THE FIRST. MY RECOLLECTION OF TRANSPORTING OUR TWO BOYS, AS WITH ALL PARENTS OF OUR ERA, WAS THAT WE CARRIED THEM IN OUR LAPS, OR ON THE BACK SEAT THAT WERE PLANKED WITH A BOARD AND SUPPORTED WITH LEGS SO THE ENTIRE BACK SEAT WAS LIKE A BED, COVERED WITH A ‘FUTON’ OR IF WE OWNED A STATION WAGON, THEY WERE JUST PLACED IN THE VERY BACK. I ALSO REMEMBER ACQUIRING A LITTLE SEAT THAT HOOKED OVER THE FRONT BENCH SO THE CHILD COULD VIES THE SCENERY AROUND HIM. TODAY AS WE CONTINUE TO OBSERVE THE NEWEST OF RULES, VARIATIONS OF SAFETY SEATS AND PRICE TAGS; IT SEEMS A MIRACLE THAT OUR CHILDREN SURVIVED. MIND YOU, THE SPEED AND DESIGNS OF CARS WERE NOT AS SOPHISTICATED, HOWEVER THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT ELEMENT OF DANGER FOR ACCIDENTS TO OCCUR AND MANY LIVES WERE LOST DUE TO CARELESSNESS.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20110033000

Acquisition Date

2011-11

Collection

Museum

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