Did you as a baby sit in one of these?

Did you buy one for your child?

Image: eBay

Image: eBay

Produced by Babyhood Industries of Shrewsbury, MA, the Wonda Chair was “a do-it-all, all-in-one, convertible wonder. As the seller mentions, the multi-piece furniture/stroller kit mixes and matches to create the following: Hi-chair, youth chair, chair and table, dressing table, desk set, rocking chair, stroller, baby carriage, basinette, and cradle.”

As expectantΒ parents, we fell prey to this marvel and sunk hundreds of dollars into this magnificent wonder, the Wonda Chair. We used it mostly as a high chair and stroller for our children. Later, Crista and JoelΒ pushed each other around on the sidewalk with theΒ stroller base. Here they are improvising their own version of a horse and buggy with a dog and Wonda Chair carriage wheels.

WondaChairCristaJoel

Recently, we have been going through Mother’s things in herΒ attic and came upon this 19th century marvelβ€”a high chair that converts into a baby carriageβ€”hand-made and still serviceable.

MomChairLow

MmChairUp2

Mother was the first daughter in the family after four brothers, so she is the fifth in her family to use the chair. It is vintage, however, and probably handed down to the family from the previous generation, frugal Mennonites who valued quality and heritage.

Mother in high chair, 1918

Mother in the Metzler high chair, 1918

Two wonderful chairs – the Wonda Chair and the heirloom . . .

* Β * Β *

Your turn: Take your pick – The Wonda Chair or the Vintage chair?

OrΒ tell your tale of special pieces handed down in your family.