| We are led to believe by historians and various | | | | popular with many disabled people who would travel to |
| legends that possibly the earliest recorded sighting of | | | | Bath to drink and bathe in the now famous spa |
| the Wheelchair was as far back as 5-6 thousand | | | | waters. |
| years ago. | | | | So popular indeed that a variety of models were |
| In real terms the Chinese are reported to have found | | | | produced, some included fitted hoods and glass fronts, |
| engraved images as far back as 525ad unfortunately | | | | and of course there was always the original cabriolet |
| there is no evidence to support rumours that this | | | | version! |
| coincided with the launch of the early version of the | | | | As another century passes, and as with all things in life |
| first blue flag parking stone displayed on dashboards | | | | progress happens, the wheelchairs progression took |
| of certain chariots outside some of the early | | | | on a more comfortable persona and the development |
| coliseums'. | | | | of two larger rear wheels and smaller wheels at the |
| It seems that nothing else had been recorded to | | | | front, once more people were given the independence |
| document further sightings of the "lesser spotted" | | | | of being in control of their own speed! |
| Wheelchair since this time, until the 1590`s, it was | | | | Albeit there was a down side to this development in |
| around this period that the Spanish ruler King Phillip II | | | | the fact that although you could turn the wheel |
| had been sketched by an artist whilst sat in a chair | | | | yourself, you would have ended up with dirty hands, |
| that was graced by what can only be described as | | | | this problem was later resolved in the1880`s when |
| castors attached to the end of each of the four legs. | | | | manufacturers added a smaller wheel to the outer |
| Even so historians believe it to be recognised as a | | | | edge of the main wheel which became known as the |
| Wheelchair. | | | | push rims giving people a much cleaner means of |
| As we roll from the 1500`s and into the 1600`s the | | | | travel. |
| wheelchairs of old had been developed more towards | | | | In the early 1900`s the still larger and bulky type of |
| a three wheeled version, one of which was created | | | | wheelchair was transformed into what we are more |
| by a disabled watchmaker around 1655.Mr Stephen | | | | used to seeing in today's market place, a design that |
| Farfler was the first recorded to have been mobility | | | | was developed by American Harry Jennings who |
| self sufficient, his somewhat bulky design based on a | | | | decided to make a lighter and folding wheelchair for his |
| three wheeled chassis was to have a single wheel at | | | | friend Herbert Everest who would often complain |
| the front with handles fixed either side which when | | | | about not being able to get a chair to fit in his car, and |
| turned by hand would indeed enable Mr Stephen | | | | so the modern day version was born. Quick to see a |
| Farfler to travel independently. | | | | gap became market leaders, so much so that they |
| The next step in the progression of the wheelchair | | | | found themselves facing being charged with inflating |
| was in fact somewhat of a backward step, although a | | | | the price too high, and the U.S. Department of Justice |
| degree of comfort had been introduced the earlier | | | | issued them with suit of antitrust, which was later |
| concept of independent mobility seemed to have been | | | | settled out of court, but without a doubt this paved the |
| over looked in the new version, considering over a | | | | way for many other companies to develop similar |
| century had passed between the two designs, Mr | | | | products. |
| John Dawson`s 1780`s Wheelchair catered more | | | | The wheelchair now has a global presence and when |
| towards the comfort side of things, still with a three | | | | we think back to the early sightings and how it took |
| wheel design but the earlier handle on the front wheel | | | | centuries to develop, from King Phillip II`s relaxing table |
| design had been replaced with a rigid longer handle | | | | with castors to today's modern variations it was an |
| used only for steering, thus leaving the passenger | | | | idea that really did seem to serve a purpose for so |
| reliant on being pushed from behind or drawn from the | | | | many how found that mobility was a problem in some |
| front by means of a small horse or donkey. This type | | | | way or another, |
| of wheelchair, called the "Bath chair" after the town in | | | | So what does the future of the wheelchair hold, with |
| which Mr Dawson lived and worked, became quite | | | | today's modern technologies who knows! |