Child's wheelchair, model 1, by Bencraft Ltd., English, 1940-1960

Unlike modern wheelchairs that have four wheels, this chair has three: two large front wheels and one small rear wheel. It was a very basic model for use by a child in hospital. It was made from a wooden chair by Bencraft Limited in Birmingham, England. The wooden chair has had two large cycle or pram wheels added at the front that the chair user could turn by hand using the outer wooden rim and with a basic brake on the left-hand side. There is no other means of pushing the chair. A foot board lifts the patient’s feet out of the way. The small wheel at the back gives the chair some stability. This example was used at the Farnborough Hospital in Kent, England.