Antique Wicker Hamper Bench by F.A.Whitney Carriage Co.- Leominster, MA.

Antique “Fashionably Whitney” baby/youth wicker and wood hamper bench by F.A.Whitney Carriage Company of Leominster, MA. Dimensions: Ht. 18.5”, Width 20.5”, Depth 12.5”, wooden handles are 4” high from seat/lid. Signs of wear consistent with age. Please note some worn areas in the wicker. Inside of hamper appears original, outside has been painted. Hard plastic coating is missing from top of hamper seat/lid.

The F. A. Whitney Carriage Company was a prominent American manufacturer of baby carriages and related juvenile products, founded by Francis Austin Whitney in 1858 in Leominster, Massachusetts, where it operated until ceasing business in 1952.[1][2] The company began as a single-unit plant focused on producing high-quality wicker and reed baby carriages, which became its signature products, evolving from basic designs to advanced models accessible to families of all economic backgrounds over its 94-year history.[1][2] By 1923, it had expanded significantly into a sprawling industrial complex of 29 buildings across 12 acres, optimized for efficient production from raw materials like wood, reed, iron, and steel to finished goods, enabling distribution to nearly every town in the United States and Canada, as well as international markets via railroads and mail services.[2] In addition to carriages such as sulkies, go-carts, and Pullman runabouts, the firm later diversified into wicker furniture, including rockers, chairs, and love seats marked with its name, which remain highly valued by collectors today.[3][1] The company's growth mirrored Leominster's rise as an industrial hub in Worcester County, contributing to local employment and innovation in juvenile transport until its closure in 1952.[2][1]