The earliest wheelchair was built in 1932, by engineer, Harry Jennings. He built a folding, tubular steel wheelchair. Pictured here is one of the newest models, of which is similar to the original one. The original chair was built for a paraplegic friend of Jennings called Herbert Everest. Together they founded Everest & Jennings. This company monopolized the wheelchair market for many years. An Antitrust suit was brought against Everest & Jennings by the Department of Justice, who charged the company with rigging wheelchair prices. The case was eventually settled out of court. This opened the door for other companies to compete in the market; which brought about a change in pricing for these essential items, making them more affordable to the general public. One Response to “The history of the wheelchair”
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June 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
This is a very interesting article. As I sit in my own wheelchair, it never occurred to me when and how this contraption was discovered. In any event, I don’t know what I would do without it.