Description

Summary: model of an Edgar's Dairies delivery cart and horse. Cart, wood, painted, horse, a china model, made as an ornament originally. Cart on special slope made for Edgar's Dairies. Driver walked down road leading the horse as there was no place to sit. Cart has compartments and cupboards to hold milk, painted cream with black lettering, 'Edgar's Dairies,' with dark green and cream lettering on the sides' New Milton, Milford and Highcliffe' and 'Telephones. New Milton 41. Mlford 18. Highcliffe 394.' Wheels, metal with rubber tyres. Harness made of very thin strips of dark leather. China horse is dark brown with white lower legs. The cart is attached to a wooden base with black rubber surface. Base 53cm x 17cm. Cart and shafts 53 cm x 15 cm wide, 21 cm high.

Identification note: Edgars Dairies had shops in New Milton, Milford and Lymington, and a milk round in Milford too. A horse and cart, like this one, would deliver not only milk but eggs, cream, butter, bacon, tea, sugar, orange juice and cigarettes too. Wilf Simpkins, who had this model made and is shown in the photograph with his horse Charlie, started at Edgars as a milk roundsman in 1958. By that date there were already some electric milk floats in use, and as each horse retired it was replaced by a milk float.

Identification note: Model made by Mr and Mrs J. Ransom, 86 Coles Avenue, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset

Identification note: Damaged harness in box 3 for safe keeping G11/C4