Umair Gaines
Electric wheelchairs have come a long way since their inception. The first electric wheelchair was invented in 1953 by George Klein, a Canadian, who saw the need for them after World War II left many veterans needing mobility assistance. In the 1980s, most electric wheelchairs were still heavy and bulky, requiring a special vehicle for transportation. One of the companies that manufactured electric wheelchairs in the 1980s was Everest & Jennings, which was the first company to mass-produce wheelchairs and had become the world's largest supplier of wheelchairs by the early 1970s.
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What You'll Learn
- Electric wheelchairs in the 1980s were heavy and bulky
- The Fortress electric wheelchair was likely inspired by George Klein's 1953 invention
- Everest & Jennings monopolised the wheelchair industry
- The electric wheelchair was invented to aid paralysed WWII veterans
- The 1980s saw the introduction of joystick-operated electric wheelchairs
Electric wheelchairs in the 1980s were heavy and bulky
Electric wheelchairs have come a long way since their inception. The earliest mention of the wheelchair is hard to pinpoint, but historians have discovered evidence suggesting that mobility devices were used in ancient Greece and China as early as the 6th century AD. The wheelchair has evolved considerably over time, with the magic today being in finding the right one, rather than merely surviving a spinal cord injury.
In the 1980s, electric wheelchairs were still in their relative infancy, having been introduced to the market in the 1950s and 1960s. During this time, most electric wheelchairs were bulky and heavy, requiring a special vehicle for transportation. The power components of the chair were integrated into the frame, which had been strengthened to support them. This made the wheelchairs of the time quite cumbersome and challenging to manoeuvre.
The development of electric wheelchairs in the 1980s built upon earlier innovations in the field. The first electric wheelchair, invented in 1953 by George Klein, was large, heavy, and ungainly. It was marketed by Everest & Jennings in 1956, marking the beginning of the power wheelchair era. The 1960s saw the introduction of electric drives for folding wheelchairs, but these were still heavy and cumbersome. It wasn't until the mid-1970s that the next significant advancement occurred, with the introduction of aircraft-quality aluminium frames, which sparked a revolution of ultralight wheelchairs.
Despite these advancements, electric wheelchairs in the 1980s retained a level of bulkiness and weight that limited their portability and ease of use. However, this decade also witnessed the integration of power components into the chair's frame, enhancing their functionality and performance. By the 1990s, electric wheelchairs had become more foldable and manageable, although they still required the removal of certain parts, such as leg rests and batteries, for transportation.
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The Fortress electric wheelchair was likely inspired by George Klein's 1953 invention
The Fortress electric wheelchair was first introduced in the mid-1980s. During this time, most electric wheelchairs on the market were still bulky and heavy. They required a separate vehicle for transportation. The power components of the chair were integrated into the frame, which had been strengthened to support them.
The development of the first electric wheelchair was a result of Klein's advocacy and Canada's commitment to healthcare and veterans' support in the post-World War II period. Many soldiers returned from the war paralysed and unable to use manual wheelchairs, so Klein was tasked with building an entirely new wheelchair.
The Klein Chair was a collaboration between Klein and various professionals, including healthcare workers, doctors, therapists, mechanical designers, electrical engineers, administrators, and patients. Klein's respect for the views of patients empowered his innovation. The design of the Klein Chair served as the foundation for modern power chairs, and its core technologies were adopted by major wheelchair manufacturing companies, making electric wheelchairs widely available to disabled civilians.
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Everest & Jennings monopolised the wheelchair industry
The company Everest & Jennings was founded in 1933 by Herbert A. Everest and Harry C. Jennings Sr., who were friends and engineers. Everest, who was physically disabled after a mining accident in 1918, complained to Jennings about the bulk of chairs available in the early 1930s. Together, they designed and built a lightweight, collapsible model in Jennings' garage, patenting the design in October 1937.
Everest & Jennings went on to become a near-monopoly in the wheelchair industry. They were the first company to mass-produce wheelchairs, and in 1956, they became the first to mass-produce electric wheelchairs. By the early 1970s, Everest & Jennings International was the world's largest supplier of wheelchairs.
Their "X" bracket folding frame wheelchair revolutionized wheelchair design, making it possible to easily transport what was once heavy and cumbersome. This design feature still influences wheelchair design today. Everest & Jennings supplied disabled veterans of World War II through government contracts, which helped establish the company as a recognized name in rehabilitation equipment.
However, their monopoly status brought increased scrutiny, and in 1977, the United States Justice Department formally accused Everest & Jennings of practices that violated antitrust laws. The resulting settlement required the company to make annual compliance reports to the Justice Department. Despite this, Everest & Jennings recorded sales of $145 million in 1980, with profits of nearly $8 million.
In the 1980s, Everest & Jennings launched "Avenues," an adaptive clothing line for wheelchair users, and diversified into hospital beds, but suffered major losses. Changes in the business landscape during this decade left the company struggling by the end of the 1980s.
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The electric wheelchair was invented to aid paralysed WWII veterans
The wheelchair has a long history, with the earliest mention of it hard to pinpoint. However, many historians have discovered evidence of mobility devices in ancient Greece and China around the 6th century AD. Inscriptions suggest that the Ancient Greeks used wheeled beds to transport people who couldn't walk, and wheelchairs have been in use in China since around 525 AD. The earliest known record of a wheelchair is an inscription on a stone slate in China.
Fast forward to the mid-19th century, and wheelchair production in the USA gained momentum during the Industrial Revolution. Various innovations were introduced, such as replacing wooden wheels with metal ones and adding rubber tires. This period also saw the inclusion of padded parts and improved arm and leg rests for enhanced user comfort.
In 1916, a motorized wheelchair was reportedly first invented and used in London, marking a significant development in the evolution of mobility devices. However, the electric wheelchair as we know it today became a reality in the 1950s, thanks to the efforts of George Klein, a Canadian inventor, engineer, and designer. In 1952, Klein led a project funded by the Canadian Veterans Affairs and several veterans' organizations. The project aimed to develop the first practical electric wheelchair to assist soldiers returning from World War II who were paralyzed and unable to use a manual wheelchair.
The electric wheelchair invented by Klein was then marketed by Everest & Jennings in 1956, marking the beginning of the power wheelchair era. This revolutionary design not only aided paralyzed veterans of World War II but also sparked a wave of innovation in the late 20th century, with the introduction of folding, lightweight, and sports wheelchairs, among other advancements.
The impact of these innovations extended beyond mobility, as paralyzed veterans also played a pivotal role in the creation of wheelchair sports and the fight for disability rights. Veterans from hospitals in Staten Island and Framingham, Massachusetts, formed the first wheelchair basketball teams, popularizing the sport and challenging societal stigmas. Their courage and determination inspired future generations and paved the way for the Paralympic Games, forever changing the perception of disabilities in sports and society.
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The 1980s saw the introduction of joystick-operated electric wheelchairs
Electric wheelchairs have come a long way since their inception, evolving from basic mobility devices to advanced means of getting around with ease and comfort. The 1980s marked a significant step in this transformation with the advent of joystick-operated electric wheelchairs. This innovation ushered in a new era of convenience and independence for individuals with impaired mobility, empowering them to navigate their surroundings with enhanced control and precision.
The journey towards the joystick-operated electric wheelchair began decades earlier. The mid-19th century witnessed the emergence of the wheelchair industry in the USA, spurred by bicycle and carriage makers who recognised the potential of this equipment. Over time, wooden wheels gave way to metal ones with rubber tires, and axles and frames were upgraded for enhanced durability. The late 19th century saw the introduction of the "X" bracket folding frame wheelchair, revolutionising transportation for users.
The mid-20th century was a period of dynamic change, with the introduction of various specialised wheelchair designs, including folding, lightweight, and powered options. In 1952, Canadian inventor, engineer, and designer George Klein played a pivotal role in developing the first practical electric wheelchair. This project, funded by Canadian Veterans Affairs and veterans' organisations, aimed to restore mobility to soldiers returning from World War II, many of whom were paralysed and unable to use manual wheelchairs.
The electric wheelchair gained further traction in the 1960s, with the advent of electric drives for folding wheelchairs. However, these early attempts were cumbersome, and the drive units were heavy and challenging to attach and detach. It was during this decade that both joystick and steering column mechanisms became available, offering users different options for controlling their wheelchairs. The 1970s witnessed the introduction of aircraft-quality aluminium in wheelchair frames, sparking a revolution in ultralight wheelchairs that improved portability and ease of use.
By the 1980s, electric wheelchairs had become more commonplace, but they remained bulky and heavy, necessitating specialised vehicles for transportation. The power components were integrated into the frame, which had been strengthened to bear the additional weight. This decade witnessed the emergence of niche wheelchair designs, including the rigid wheelchair intended for athletes, capable of self-propulsion and impressive speeds of up to 30 km/hr. The 1990s brought further advancements, with popular electric wheelchairs becoming foldable, albeit requiring the removal of certain components like leg rests and batteries.
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