Where to buy?

Question

I want to buy an old-fashion sedan chair. Anyone knows any good shops/ companies to try and preferably not on the internet?

Answer 1

Even though I don't know where you can purchase one without doing it over the internet, I did some searching for you and thought I would share some history about the sedan chair. Hope this was ok to do...

The first sedan chairs for public hire in Scotland were introduced to Edinburgh in 1687. Horse-drawn coaches had been used before this, but were unsuited to the narrow closes and steep hills of Edinburgh's Old Town. The sedan chair was, therefore, a particularly suitable form of transport.

The hackney sedans were constructed of wood with a black leather covering, and were fitted with a cushioned seat. Privately owned chairs were much more elaborate with fine embossed leather, stamped metalwork, pastoral paintings, carvings and gilding. The sedan door was normally at the front but most Edinburgh chairs had a door at the side to allow easier access from doorways in the narrow closes and wynds. Another Edinburgh adaptation was the pivoting seat that kept passengers in a horizontal position on the steep inclines in the Old Town.

The sedan chair reached the height of its popularity in the 18th century. In 1687, there were only six chairs available for public hire but by 1779 there were 180 hackney-chairs and 50 private chairs in Edinburgh. The main sedan-chair stance was at the Tron Kirk. A table of fares introduced in 1738 specified 6d for a trip within the city, 4s for a whole day's rental, and 1s 6d for a journey a half mile outside town. The majority of the chair bearers were Highlanders and this was reflected in the use of tartan for their uniforms.

The sedans were a fairly dignified method of transport as long as there was no great hurry and the distance to be travelled was not great. However, it would seem that they were not particularly comfortable especially when the chairmen were busy, when they would 'set off at a plunging trot with their load, and as the carrying poles were quite pliant, the extreme bobbing up and down and swinging to and fro of the vehicle, produced an uneasy feeling in the passenger'.

It was a quirky taxi service. The 'ladies of nobility and quality' who used them for trips to dancing assemblies and the theatre could be sure, doubtless at a price, of a small lantern to light the sedan and a hot water pan placed under the seat.

A particularly eccentric Edinburgh judge never used a sedan himself but had his wig sent home in one when it rained. A sedan was even kept by the Royal Infirmary as an ambulance. It was quite common for sedans to be overturned in strong winds and it was normal on windy days to hire two men to walk either side of the chair to keep it even, while another two carried it. Quite how four such men synchronised their movements is not explained.

The sedan chair continued to be used for all major Edinburgh social events well into the 19th century, but by that time most sedans were in the more affluent New Town. There were 101 sedan chairs in 1814, only 46 in 1827 and, by 1850; horse-drawn carriages had replaced this picturesque method of transport.

In Glasgow, over 50 sedan chairs were available for hire during the 18th century. The main stances were in Union Street, West Nile Street and Dury Street. 'Gentlewomen of the better classes' also kept private sedans. Sedan chairs were so numerous by the end of the 18th century that the Glasgow Council set down detailed rules for their control. These included requirements to display a registered number and provide lights on the chairs at night. The schedule of fares was also regulated: the minimum charge was 6d, St Andrew's Square to Argyle Street was 9d, the Gorbals to the High Church was 2 shillings and every trip after 1am was charged at double the normal rate.

Answer 2

I don't think there's anywhere that even hires them anymore let alone sell them. I tried a while ago to find out about this myself, without success.
Good luck