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Lift Chairs, Stair Lifts, Wheelchairs...
& Much More

Wheelchairs, both Manual and electric wheelchairs. Although we find confirmation that wheelchairs were present as far back as 500 B.C., the foremost self-propelling manual wheelchair, something that afforded a person that had a walking disability the ability to be more independent, was more than likely built by A man by the name of Stephen Farfler in 1655. Stephen was a twenty two year old watchmaker who was a paraplegic whose chair design afforded him the opportunity to move from area to area on his own. Mr. Farfler's manual wheelchair was kind of something between a soapbox derby car and a bicycle. Over a century later, in 1783 another wheelchair was developed by someone named John Dawson, who became a manufacturer of wheelcahirs and for the rest of his life was dubbed "The Wheelchair Maker". He was the one that created a chair with the comfort and well-being of the individuals using them in mind with stair lifts and even added footrests that were adjustable and a reclining chair back.

Push rims were added to wheel chairs in 1881. Push rims look like smaller power scooter store wheels that are on the predominant wheels . The addition of this part gave the user the capability to move his or herself while avoiding soiling his hands from where the wheel had been touching the floor or street. The disabled in the community thought this to be a fantastic step up as a wheelchair accessories. The first light weight manual wheelchair parts were crafted out of Indian reed and weighed about almost 60 pounds with push rims, 50 pounds with no push rims. Other chairs were made-up with seats made from wicker and other such wheelchair accessories and parts as movable footrests and armrests and bigger spoked wheels, which gave added efficiency and independence. These wheelchairs became more and more well known after the Civil War and again after World War II as injured war veterans wanted to be able to proceed with their lives as productive citizens.

In 1932, Herbert Everest, who was a mining engineer, who had a a problem walking, needed a method to be able to take his wheelchair with him in a car. Refusing to take "no" as an answer, Everest got in touch with an individual named Harold Jennings, (who was a mechanical engineer), and they invented the very first foldaway wheelchair with a cooling wheelchair cushion. This was a true travel folding wheelchair which may be easily transported from one spot to another by automobile and gave even more access freedom to people who used the chair. From there, they went on to create one of the largest and noted wheelchair development companies, Everest and Jennings. Herbert and Harold are also credited with developing the original power wheelchair with the addition of wheelchair batteries and a motor to their wheelchair in the 30s. This credit isn't however true, because the first mechanized chair was really produced the year 1912, when a 1 3/4 horsepower engine was put on a hand-operated wheelchair. Four years later, power wheelchairs and mobility scooters went into production in London, England. The rest is kind of mobility devices history.

Technology has certainly come a long way in helping us get around now days. Current mobility devices are faster, stronger and lighter, and thanks to the many brands and companies...they are a great deal less expensive. Currently there are power chairs, wheelchair ramps, electric adjustable beds, cushions, and so on. When looking for your scooter or chair or portable wheelchair ramps and other wheelchair accessories, make sure you do your homework and look into the elements you should have. Realize, this chair or device is for a certain person so it's particularly vital for that person to purchase the chair or device they personally prefer.