McKay-type artificial hand, Scotland, c.1920

Made:
circa 1920 in Scotland
The McKay artificial hand. Three quarter top view The McKay artificial hand The McKay artificial hand The McKay artificial hand. Three quarter view

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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The McKay artificial hand. Three quarter top view
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

The McKay artificial hand
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

The McKay artificial hand
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

The McKay artificial hand. Three quarter view
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Artificial right hand, aluminium with hard rubber cover, known as the McKay, from Aberdeen Hospital, Scottish, c.1920

The McKay artificial hand is named after its inventor. McKay was a New Zealander who established the McKay Artificial Limb Company. This was one of the more innovative in the immediate post-war period.

The fingers of this artificial hand are rigid in position. However, the thumb is moved using the ring-pulled spring to grip objects. The hand is made from aluminium. This is a lightweight yet durable material, unlike heavier wooden ones. It is coated with rubber to protect the metal. Nails are moulded into the rubber to make the hand look more realistic.

Details

Category:
Orthopaedics
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A500480
Materials:
aluminium and rubber
type:
artificial hand
credit:
Aberdeen Hospital

Parts

McKay-type artificial hand, Scotland, c.1920

McKay-type artificial hand, Scotland, c.1920

Artificial right hand, aluminium with hard rubber cover, known as the McKay, from Aberdeen Hospital, Scottish, c.1920

Materials:
aluminium and rubber
Object Number:
A500480/1
type:
artificial hand
McKay-type artificial hand, Scotland, c.1920

McKay-type artificial hand, Scotland, c.1920

Fragments of rubber from artificial right hand with hard rubber cover, known as the McKay, from Aberdeen Hospital, Scottish, c.1920

Materials:
aluminium and rubber
Object Number:
A500480/2
type:
artificial hand