Skip Navigation

Journal of Design History 2001 14(4):307-325; doi:10.1093/jdh/14.4.307
© 2001 by Design History Society
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Guyatt, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Better Legs: Artificial Limbs for British Veterans of the First World War

Mary Guyatt

Victoria and Albert Museum


  Abstract

During and immediately after the First World War there were unprecedented developments in the design of artificial limbs in Britain This study examines the two most signigicant innovations of introduction of greater standaradization in the manufacturing process and the sudden ascendance of a metal artificial limb to rival the traditional wooden leg With unterests ranging from the established makers of wooden legs to the one tiny manufacturer of metal limbs, from the British government adn its Ministry of Pensions to the huge body of amputee ex-servicemen, these new technologies were received with equal measures of scepticism and enthusiasm Thus study follows the national debate that led to the eventual emergence of a clear market-leader in the form of the Desoutter Bros metal leg.

Key Words: First World War • human body • metals • prosthetics • standardization • technology


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.