Virtual Museum

Introduction

The wheelchair is now a modern piece of technology known by everyone and used by millions worldwide. It is now known as an essential for many that are physically disabled. Looking at the history of the wheelchair is a prime example of the advancements made towards supporting those with disabilities. It pioneered through different flaws and changing demands to make a product that is used across the globe. Tracing back the first wheelchair can lead to around the 6th century in China and Greece. The wheelchair has sense gone through many technological advancements to make it the piece it is today. The earliest wheelchairs were almost always on three wheels and changed from being only pushed, to self-propelled, to steerable, to the motorized product we have today. Early forms of the wheelchair were called by several other names. They were called invalid chairs, movable chairs, couches, garden chairs, and even go-chairs. In the middle of the 19th century, they were usually called invalid chairs. Through the advancements made to the modern wheelchair, those physically disabled have been able to live far more prosperous lives. Prior to the wheelchair, those with physical disabilities lived through life far harder than they already do today. It has made almost every aspect of life easier and more accessible. Sketching's and photographs of wheelchairs will show off the evolution of wheelchairs. Looking at the wheelchair in America will show has it progressed in the United States through early patents to technological advancements. Finally, looking at wheelchairs in sports will show the new opportunites that those whom are physically disabled now have through organizations such as the Paralympics and advancements into athletic wheelchairs.

Italian wheelchair of the 8th century. Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD

The earliest model of a wheelchair

This Italian Sketching of a wheelchair in the 8th century shows the earliest of stages of a wheelchair. Faced many flaws and difficult to push.

Engraving from c.1730 showing Fafler in his 50s sitting in his vehicle. Courtesy of the Science Museum.

Earliest Self propelled wheelchair

This drawing shows a mobility aid from the 17th century. Flawed as it could not be steered.

Wickerwork Bath Chair, English, early 20th century. Courtesy of the Science Museum.

The earliest steerable wheelchair

Photo of the "Bath chair" from the early 20th century. Could be steered from the front but still had to be pushed from the back.

Folding wheelchair, ‘Model 8’, English, c.1958. Courtesy of the Science Museum.

The earliest foldable wheelchair

1950s wheelchair made far lighter and foldable. Transcendind previous wheelchair models. Could be pushed and steered by the rider.

‘Shadow Racer, lightweight sports wheelchair. Courtesy of the Science Museum.

Photo of Wheelchair Basketball, c1950. Courtsey of the National Paralympic Hertiage Trust.

The Wheelchair in Sports

The story of the wheelchair in sports is a testament to the development of wheelchairs and the new opportunities for those with physical disabilities. In the mid-20th century, the Paralympic Games emerged as a platform for disabled athletes to showcase their talents, but the wheelchairs they used were pretty basic, the wheelchairs they used were often also the wheelchairs used outside of athletics. As the popularity of adaptive sports grew, so did the push for advancements for wheelchairs. The National Paralympic Hertiage Trust wrote, "Those who wanted to improve their sporting capability needed specialised wheelchairs which could better perform this task, generally desiring lighter and more manoeuvrable wheelchairs. However, economic factors slowed the development of new wheelchairs and mainstream brands like Everest and Jennings actively refused to make changes users requested, so users had to take matters into their own hands. Athletes modified their wheelchairs by removing non-essential parts, such as arm rests or breaks, which not only made the wheelchair lighter, but also signified an ideological rejection of the medicinal design of the chair which prioritised safety over independence and comfort. Overall, the drive for modification for sporting purposes inspired similar changes in everyday models, with specific desire for the lightweight function and manoeuvrability of sporting wheelchairs to be applied to the everyday wheelchair. As Stewart and Watson write, this is widely acknowledged as the starting place for ultra-lightweight wheelchair models beginning in the 1970s, continuing with the Quickie wheelchair, and continuing to this day"(NPHT). After this period, engineers started using new materials and designs to create lightweight and more maneuverable wheelchairs specifically for sports. These advancements allowed those in wheelchairs to compete at a higher level and enjoy athletics once again. The advancements of wheelchairs through sports is bigger than just sports. As events such as the Paralympics grow, stereotypes of those in wheelchairs are broken down. People who are physically disabled are seen as more able than ever. The wheelchair has gone from being simply a mobility aid to a symbol of resilience and fighting through adversity. Advancements in these wheelchairs through sports has grown inclusivity in our communities.

Wheelchair from the late 1860s. Courtesy of the NMCWM, Frederick, MD

Patient in wheelchair, Carver Hospital (May be Armory Square Hospital) 1865 Courtesy of the Library of Congress

The History of Wheelchairs in America

Looking at the history of the wheelchair in America gives a much better look at the more modern advancements of the wheelchair. The earliest forms of the wheelchair are found across Europe and Asia but many of the early technological advancements were made in America. The National Museum of War Medicine says, "The first American patent for a wheelchair was issued in 1869, and Kametz claimed wheelchairs did not exist before that time. But a search revealed many pictures of chairs on wheels for various infirmities and uses"(NMCWM). This is largely due to wheelchairs having different names prior to this patent. William Long, a cabinet maker who came from London, England, developed a “Go Chair” in 1785 in Philadelphia. This wheelchair was the first developed in America and was made for people suffering from gout. These chairs were a start to finding an answer for obtaining specialized seating for disabled people in this country. The National Museum of War Medicine shows off 2 chairs developed in America by sharing, "In Lebanon, NY, a rocking chair was adapted into a wheelchair. This chair is dated from 1810 to 1830; the maker is unknown. It is a Shaker-style rocking chair with wheels attached but with no leg rests. The rocker is composed of birch, maple, beech, ash splint, and steel. A small wheel in the back was for balance... Giuseppe Garibaldi, a principle leader of Italian unification, had a rolling chaise lounge in 1862. His physician ordered this chair bed to hasten his convalescence. Garibaldi used a tray for eating, reading and writing. The chaise lounge transferred into a bed by lowering the back to horizontal level and raising the leg section"(NWCWM). These chairs showed the advancements made all the way back in the 19th century. The wheelchair continued to advance and the most succseful wheelchair was created in the mid 20th century. The Science Museum states, "Perhaps the most commercially successful wheelchair to be marketed was the revolutionary ‘X-frame’ folding wheelchair. Developed in the 1930s by American engineers Harry Jennings and Herbert Everest – after the latter became paraplegic in a mining accident – the relatively lightweight and easily transportable chair is still familiar today"(SM). The Model X wheelchair is a revolutionary advancment that is still being used to this day.

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