Car Seat [Kidi-Safeti-Seat]
Maker and role
Underwood Engineering Company Limited, Manufacturer
Production date
Post 1949
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2019.136
Production period
Description
A child's car seat made by The Underwood Engineering Co. Ltd. of Inglewood. The car seat has a square metal frame attached to two rubber/plastic tubes which are bent in a curve, designed to hook over the top of the fixed car seat. The metal frame base holds another horizontal frame protruding outwards, of which a red, white and black tartan material is attached. The tartan has two circular cut-outs for the child's legs. Two leather straps, painted white, are attached either side of the frame with a buckle connecting the two straps. On the interior of the tartan is a sewn label with the maker information. The text reads, "The ORIGINAL UNDERWOOD DESIGNED / Kidi-Safeti-Seat / MANUFACTURED BY / The Underwood Engineering / CO LTD / INGLEWOOD, N.Z. / NONE GENUINE WITHOUT THIS LABEL".
Brief History
Made by The Underwood Engineering Company, this child's car seat is an early example of a car seat restraint specifically made for children.
The Kidi-Safeti-Seat was the innovation of Harold Underwood, who designed and built the first of these seats in his garage in Wellington during 1936. Kidi-Safeti-Seats became quickly popular and by 1947 these seats were marketed for use in cars, trains and buses.
After a move to New Plymouth, where he established two firms including the Fun Ho! Toy Company, Underwood moved again to Inglewood, where he set up The Underwood Engineering Company in 1949. Here the Kidi-Safeti-Seats, including MOTAT’s example, continued to be manufactured.
Before 1965, cars did not require seatbelts to be fitted for any of the occupants. A law change during this year required front seatbelts to be fitted to cars, however it was 10 years later that it became law to wear the seatbelt. The wearing of rear seatbelts was mandated in 1989. From 1994 child car seats or restraints were legally required for children under five years old.
Child car seats have been around in a variety of forms for decades. Early iterations include cushions and re-purposed furniture. Today’s car seats use engineering, science and testing to ensure a standard of safety, as well as comfort, is maintained.
The Kidi-Safeti-Seat was the innovation of Harold Underwood, who designed and built the first of these seats in his garage in Wellington during 1936. Kidi-Safeti-Seats became quickly popular and by 1947 these seats were marketed for use in cars, trains and buses.
After a move to New Plymouth, where he established two firms including the Fun Ho! Toy Company, Underwood moved again to Inglewood, where he set up The Underwood Engineering Company in 1949. Here the Kidi-Safeti-Seats, including MOTAT’s example, continued to be manufactured.
Before 1965, cars did not require seatbelts to be fitted for any of the occupants. A law change during this year required front seatbelts to be fitted to cars, however it was 10 years later that it became law to wear the seatbelt. The wearing of rear seatbelts was mandated in 1989. From 1994 child car seats or restraints were legally required for children under five years old.
Child car seats have been around in a variety of forms for decades. Early iterations include cushions and re-purposed furniture. Today’s car seats use engineering, science and testing to ensure a standard of safety, as well as comfort, is maintained.
Marks
The ORIGINAL UNDERWOOD DESIGNED / Kidi-Safeti-Seat / MANUFACTURED BY / The Underwood Engineering / CO LTD / INGLEWOOD, N.Z. / NONE GENUINE WITHOUT THIS LABEL Label
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Underwood Engineering Company Limited. Post 1949. Car Seat [Kidi-Safeti-Seat], 2019.136. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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