Unearth a variety of artefacts revealing the understanding and treatment of physical disability from the 16th century up to today, central to which is one of the finest collections of artificial limbs in the world.
Orthopaedics
1971
Pair of prosthetic limbs made for a child, Tracey Baynam, aged 9 years, affected by thalidomide, made by J E Hanger, United Kingdom, May 1971
1914-1918
Left metal below knee prosthesis with leather thigh corset made for a Cypriot truck driver during 1914-18 War. Made in Cyprus.
c.1919
"Openshaw" wooden carrying hand with a tenon thumb. The index and middle fingers are articulated at the metacarpo-phalangeal and proximal inter-phalangeal joints. The ring and little fingers are rigid and slightly flexed with a steel palmar reinforcement, which extends into the palm. The wrist is oval with a screw fitment for attachment to the prosthetic arm. Made by Anderson & Whitelaw c.1919.
1915-1925
Wooden "Anglesey" prosthesis for right above knee amputee. Broad leather waist belt with two straps and buckle fastening and mortice and tenon ankle joint. Smooth grey leather foot covering. Made by Grossmith, England, c.1920. Weight: 7 lbs, 3.1 kg.
1879-1923
Pair of child's adjustable orthopaedic boots with steel leg braces made by I.A. Best and Son, Birmingham, 1879-1923
1895-1904
Right below elbow prosthesis made for a lady pianist, Elizabeth Burton. Blocked leather socket connected by jointed side steels to a long leather upper arm corset with four strap and buckle fastenings. Large wing nut on inner side of elbow, to lock the joint. Shaped wooden oval wrist with detachable wooden hand. Wide spread fingers, the index, middle and ring being shorter than normal, both thumb and little finger tips are padded. This design allowed the wearer to span an octave of a piano and was made by a Mr Royden of Abingdon St, Northampton, c.1904.
1967-1972
'Crash helmet', used by Eddie Freeman, a child affected by the drug thalidomide, made at The Limb Fitting Centre, London, 1967-1972
1930-1950
Doll, ceramic infant doll, encased within a full body-length, supported plaster cast, probably used to demonstrate to child patients their prospective treatment for scoliosis, polio or skeletal TB with accompanying large and small descriptive labels, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1930-1950
1943
Right above elbow heavy duty prosthesis with a blocked leather socket, (not the original). Dural elbow unit with internal/external rotation mechanism and lock (by means of ball-headed pin set on outer side). Detachable metal forearm section, released by rotation of the knurled ring. Similar ring at wrist, rotating externally releases the hand or other terminal device. Rotating the ring in the opposite direction locks the devices. Webbing appendages. The leather flexion cord passes through the back of the elbow and is attached to the stem on the upper part of the forearm. Certalmid hand with index and middle fingers suitably spaced at the base to permit a pen to be held. Fully opposed thumb with a groove at the tip for this purpose. Made by Blatchford, dated 9 December 1943.
1901-1920
Thomas' leg splint, 1901-1920
1839-1881
Whalebone walking stick with skull form pommel in ivory, once owned by Charles Darwin, probably English, 1839-1881
1968-1972
Pair of artificial legs, used by Eddie Freeman, a child affected by the drug thalidomide, made at the Roehampton Limb Fitting Centre, London, 1967-1972
Certalmid hand with fully opposed thumb with a grooved tip. The index and middle fingers are 'canted' to enable a pen or pencil to be held. In the palm is a screw box fitment for securing a driving cup (for holding a ball on the steering wheel of a car). Probably made by A.E. Evans, c.1920.
1993-1995
'Shadow Mono-ski' sports wheelchair with accompanying hand held guide skis, for alpine events, manufactured by Quickie for Sunrise Medical Ltd, England 1993-1995
1982
Jaipur artificial foot, for Symes amputee, made in India, 1982
1920
A McKay all-metal arm for a left above elbow amputation, designed for heavy work. Duralumin socket and forearm, connected by jointed side steels. The elbow joint operates around a metal arc with holes for six locking positions. The lock may be released and kept free by means of a crude gate-hinged device which fits onto a projecting pin on the side steel. The wrist rotary has a snap fitting mechanism, for easy removal of the hand, or any other terminal device. The eyelet holes, in the front of the socket and forearm, are for elastic laces which act as an elbow 'pick-up' and as a clothing protector. This prosthesis is fitted with an all-rubber hand and heavy-duty harness appendages. Made by McKay on 28 April 1920. N.B. The name on the arm label refers to James Morrison who had a financial interest in the McKay business. (Weight: 2.25 lbs 1.25 kg)
1963
Early pair of CO2 gas powered prostheses for a very young child born with very short upper limbs (phocomelia) due to Thalidomide. Plastic arms and forearms with spade-like hands. Friction joints permitting abduction and rotation at the shoulders and rotation and flexion at the elbows respectively. The limbs were positioned by an Occupational Therapist and fixed by tightening the large slotted screws, with the aid of a coin. When the two elbows are set at 900 and the front valve is activated the hands come together. Likewise the hands part when the rear valve is activated. Each valve is connected, by a nylon cord, to a leather waist belt (or lower limb prostheses if worn). Forward bending of the trunk opens the rear valve and the reverse movement causes the front valve to operate. N.B. Limbs such as these, were worn for short training periods each day until the child could progress to more sophisticated prostheses. Made by Steeper 1963.
1795-1820
Admiral Grindall's knife and fork
1601-1800
Plated metal artificial nose, 17th-18th century.
1913-1923
Ministry of Pensions light-weight "Bird Cage" prosthesis for right above knee amputee. Certalmid socket mounted on a metal skeleton-like structure. The shin is of similar construction with a central supporting rod from end of socket to ankle and jointed at knee level. Wooden foot with metal dorsal surface. Made c.1918.
1966
A pair of lower limb prostheses for a Thalidomide affected child who was born with complete absence of upper limbs (amelia) and phocomelic lower limbs (absent femora, absent tibiae. Fibulae and feet present with additional toes). Blocked leather sockets, embracing both hips and buttocks, open ended to allow the natural feet to hang free. Well padded rigid pelvic bands. Non-jointed dural side struts to wooden feet with imitation shoe covering. Soles are completely flat to aid balance. Note the valve housings on both sockets, these were positioned to permit the natural toes to control valves which operated CO2 wrist rotation units and terminal devices on her upper limb prostheses. A CO2 gas cylinder is located in the left prosthesis. Made by Hanger in 1966.
1940-1960
Child's adjustable metal lower leg iron, with shoe, from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1940-1960
1942-1945
Right above knee prosthesis, constructed from crashed aircraft in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp in Singapore during World War II. It was made by Royal Engineer prisoners, under the direction of Col. Julian Taylor FRCS and a Sergeant Armourer. Made c.1943. (Weight: 7.5 lbs 3.4 kg).
Pair of "swivel-walkers" designed for another child, born with complete absence of lower limbs (amelia). Designed at the Ontario Crippled Childrens Centre - Canada and modified in U.K. Made by Fletcher/Hanger 1966.
1925-1935
Left below elbow arm, leather socket, suspended by means of a narrow leather upper-arm band. Oval wrist with screw-on wooden hand, articulated fingers and tenon thumb. Palm-box fitting in which a fork has been positioned. It is presumed the wearer had limited elbow movement hence the unusual position of the fork. Date & origin unknown, probably 1930's but repaired more recently by Steepers.
1771-1800
Child's spinal support, iron, perhaps French, late 18th century
1916-1918
"Openshaw" carrying hand with broad leather wrist gauntlet. Spring thumb with catgut thong and small ring, for opening by pull-cord. Made by Anderson & Whitelaw, c.1914-18 war.
c. 1940
German two-load left split-hook. Made by Otto Bock c.1940.
c. 1920
Wooden hand with rigid fingers and semi-opposed tenon thumb. Certalmid wrist section. Made by Steeper, c.1920.
1850-1910
Artificial arm, steel with brass wrist mountings, leather top piece, European, 1840-1940.
Pair of prosthetic limbs made for a child, Tracey Baynam, aged 11 months affected by thalidomide, made by J E Hanger, United Kingdom, April 1963
1781-1810
Child's orthopaedic boot, reputedly belonging to Lord Byron, 1781-1810
1801-1880
Iron orthopaedic corset for children
Left above knee leg made of fibre with detachable metal socket. Wooden tenon and mortice knee. Universal ankle joint by means of 4 springs. Wooden foot with toe joint. German, made circa 1915 during the First World War (Weight: 6.25 lbs 2.8 kg).
1903
Peg leg made in the shipyard at Blyth (Northumbria) by the father of a 3 year old boy who lost his right leg below the knee in 1903. The patient was still wearing a conventional below knee prosthesis at the age of 79.
Cauet mechanical hand, made of aluminium, with cork inlay to the front of the fingers which are articulated only at the metacarpo-phalangeal joints. The thumb and all the fingers "open" by means of a 'pull-cord' which is fixed to the front of the wrist and operated by means of a shoulder harness. Made by Prosthesia Ltd. c.1918.
1801-1830
Pottery statue, entitled "Old Age" depicting a man on crutches, Staffordshire, 1800-1830.
1918
Hobbs, left mechanical hand. Linked index and middle fingers articulated at middle joint. Other fingers and the opposed thumb are rigid. Round wrist. Bowden-type cable routed centrally through wrist. Patent specimen 1918.
1914-1916
Arm for a long left below elbow stump. Soft leather socket with 'U-shaped' jointed side steels incorporating a sliding elbow lock, sited on the outer side and fitted to an adjustable leather upper arm 'corset' with wide front aperture. The terminal device has a spline fitting allowing it to be locked or to rotate freely. This is a double hook incorporating a circular hole above, probably for agricultural use. Probably made by Anderson & Whitelaw c.1914-1916.
2017
SaeboFlex, a mechanical orthotic device for people with neurological impairments, following injury or illness, to retrain their hand's grasp function, by Saebo, 2017
1965
Pair of prosthetic limbs made for a child, Tracey Baynam, aged 29 months affected by thalidomide, made by J E Hanger, United Kingdom, November 1965
Pair of prosthetic limbs made for a child, Tracey Baynam, aged 4 years and 3 months affected by thalidomide, made by J E Hanger, United Kingdom, September 1966
Walking stick made from narwhal tusk with carved ivory pommel, once owned by Charles Darwin, probably English, 1839-1881
1986
Elswick Envoy road car for use by disabled drivers and designed to allow full access by wheelchair users and can be driven directly from the wheelchair. Produced by Elswick Special Vehicles Ltd in association with the Reliant company and registered in 1986. This car was owned by artist Nancy Willis, and featured in the Channel 4 film "Elegy for the Elswick Envoy" which she presented and directed.
1915
Left above elbow prosthesis with a wooden socket connected to a wooden forearm. Metal mechanical hand with passive flexion and extension of the wrist. Elbow flexion is combined with pronation / supination of the wrist. Made by Carnes Arm Company, United States of America 1915.
1901-1940
Artificial left leg for amputation above knee, 1901-1940
A pair of protective goggles with green tinted lenses used during light therapy at the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1930-1950
2012
Running blade for above knee amputee, by Otto Bock Healthcare Ltd, c 2012
1998
Potato holder, fitted with 4 prongs, can also be used to hold bread, meat or vegatables etc., and can be dismantled for cleaning, by Steeper, 1998.
1968
Two telescopic 'dressing sticks', designed for use by completely armless (amelic) people or those with very short arms (phocomelia), with an S-shaped tip which can be located in a trouser zip, held in the mouths of amelic people, or in the hands or people with short arms, also used to pull-up trousers and tuck-in shirt tails, originally made from a telescopic car aerial and stethoscope tubing, originally designed by Dr. Ian Fletcher in 1959, modifed by Steeper c. 1968.
