Objects Database

Artificial leg

Accession Number

592.2008.1

Object Name

Artificial leg

Created

03/12/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

03/12/2008

Brief Description

Leather covered metal and canvas thigh harness attached by a metal hinge to a cylindrical metal leg brace.This is then attached by a metal hinge and a leather strap to a long black metal pole. The canvas harness is also attached to the pole by a rope running through loops on the brace.

Materials

metal, leather, canvas

Dimensions

100(l) x 65(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Colour

brown, black, cream

Provenance

This rather unusual item belonged to Reg Holdich and was kindly donated by his daughter, Sarah, who had it in the loft for some years after his death.
Reg was a rock climber back in the 1920's/30's and though a solicitor by profession he was a very practical man so when he lost his leg in a motorbike accident in 1941 he actually made this artificial leg himself, there being few practical ones available to buy at the time and the NHS had yet to be created!
It seems that Reg modelled his leg on the one used by another well known mountaineer, Geoffrey Winthrop Young, who lost his leg in the First World War.
Climbers used nailed boots back in the old days and we just love the fact that Reg has put a couple of nails in the bottom of his new leg.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Sarah Holdich

Acquisition Date

03/12/2008

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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