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From: Chris & Caroline <>
Subject: Wheelchairs
Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2005 10:19:49 +0000
References: <035f01c50a83$d05322b0$6500a8c0@stephengby7p2i>
In-Reply-To: <035f01c50a83$d05322b0$6500a8c0@stephengby7p2i>


What is the history of the wheelchair?

Thank you for asking a question that I didn’t know the immediate answer
to. But I knew the people to help me investigate and find your answer. I
called Paraquad, an independent living center and talked to Sara, the
information and referral specialist.

According to WheelchairNet in Pittsburgh, PA the earliest found image of
a wheelchair was in the 6^th century in China followed by King Phillip
of Spain who used an elaborate "rolling chair" in the 16^th century. In
1700 King Louis XIV used a "roulette" that turned him around while he
recovered from an operation.


The first chair to resemble today’s wheelchairs was developed in the
18^th century with two large front wooden wheels and one caster in the
back. Then in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, following the American
Civil War and World War I, the first wheelchairs were built with wooden
frames, wicker seats, adjustable arm rests, foot rests and large spoked
wheels.

In 1894 a US patent was filed for the first self-propelled wheelchair
and in 1932 Herbert Everest (an injured mining engineer) and Harold
Jennings (a mechanical engineer) designed the first folding chair and
formed the now popular company E&J. Sam Duke also developed a folding
chair at the same time. In the 1950’s E&J developed the first powered
wheelchair. They followed the development of transistor-controlled
motors and adapted their interest by adding a motor to their manual
wheelchair at the same time.

Wheelchair sports started taking place in 1952 in England and the first
Paralympics took place in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. In 1975 Bob Hall
completed the Boston Marathon in a manual wheelchair.

The 70’s and 80’s brought on lighter weight chairs with designs specific
to wheelchair sports. The 80’s gave wheelers microprocessor-controlled
wheelchairs, which allowed for the customization of controls, to meet
specific "driving" needs. Finally the 90’s established a revolution in
powered wheelchairs based on design, style, range and method of travel.
http://www.access-4-all.com/qna/3.htm

Chris and Caroline


Stephen Hillier of Esperance Western Australia wrote:

> I have a old photo of abt 1870's with someone in the back ground that
> looks like they are in a wheel chair way back in the back ground. I
> resize it and have it in my head its a wheel chair.
>
> Q is how long has wheel chairs been around.
>
> I thought anyone crippled where lock away.
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Steve
>
>


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