We are led to believe by historians and various legends that possibly the earliest recorded sighting of the Wheelchair was as far back as 5-6 thousand years ago.

In real terms the Chinese are reported to have found engraved images as far back as 525ad unfortunately there is no evidence to support rumours that this coincided with the launch of the early version of the first blue flag parking stone displayed on dashboards of certain chariots outside some of the early coliseums'.

It seems that nothing else had been recorded to document further sightings of the “lesser spotted” Wheelchair since this time, until the 1590`s, it was around this period that the Spanish ruler King Phillip II had been sketched by an artist whilst sat in a chair that was graced by what can only be described as castors attached to the end of each of the four legs. Even so historians believe it to be recognised as a Wheelchair.

As we roll from the 1500`s and into the 1600`s the wheelchairs of old had been developed more towards a three wheeled version, one of which was created by a disabled watchmaker around 1655.Mr Stephen Farfler was the first recorded to have been mobility self sufficient, his somewhat bulky design based on a three wheeled chassis was to have a single wheel at the front with handles fixed either side which when turned by hand would indeed enable Mr Stephen Farfler to travel independently.

The next step in the progression of the wheelchair was in fact somewhat of a backward step, although a degree of comfort had been introduced the earlier concept of independent mobility seemed to have been over looked in the new version, considering over a century had passed between the two designs, Mr John Dawson`s 1780`s Wheelchairs catered more towards the comfort side of things, still with a three wheel design but the earlier handle on the front wheel design had been replaced with a rigid longer handle used only for steering, thus leaving the passenger reliant on being pushed from behind or drawn from the front by means of a small horse or donkey. This type of wheelchair, called the “Bath chair” after the town in which Mr Dawson lived and worked, became quite popular with many disabled people who would travel to Bath to drink and bathe in the now famous spa waters.

So popular indeed that a variety of models were produced, some included fitted hoods and glass fronts, and of course there was always the original cabriolet version!

As another century passes, and as with all things in life progress happens, the wheelchairs progression took on a more comfortable persona and the development of two larger rear wheels and smaller wheels at the front, once more people were given the independence of being in control of their own speed!

Albeit there was a down side to this development in the fact that although you could turn the wheel yourself, you would have ended up with dirty hands, this problem was later resolved in the1880`s when manufacturers added a smaller wheel to the outer edge of the main wheel which became known as the push rims giving people a much cleaner means of travel.

In the early 1900`s the still larger and bulky type of Wheelchairs was transformed into what we are more used to seeing in today’s market place, a design that was developed by American Harry Jennings who decided to make a lighter and folding wheelchair for his friend Herbert Everest who would often complain about not being able to get a chair to fit in his car, and so the modern day version was born. Quick to see a gap became market leaders, so much so that they found themselves facing being charged with inflating the price too high, and the U.S. Department of Justice issued them with suit of antitrust, which was later settled out of court, but without a doubt this paved the way for many other companies to develop similar products.

The wheelchair now has a global presence and when we think back to the early sightings and how it took centuries to develop, from King Phillip II`s relaxing table with castors to today’s modern variations it was an idea that really did seem to serve a purpose for so many who found that mobility was a problem in some way or another,
So what does the future of the wheelchair hold, with today’s modern technologies who knows!

© 2009 Mobility Aids Guide.com