What do you make of this?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (349818)
Rockingham, Australia
February 11, 2025 6:21pm CST
Here is another of the items we saw in the Collie Museum.
It’s a home-made wheelchair; at least, I think it is but there is really nowhere for a person’s legs to go. It looks like it should be propelled by moving the ‘arms’ back and forth but they seem to be in a totally awkward position.
Maybe it was made for a person who had lost their legs and they were positioned facing the double wheels but then how would they steer it? Does anyone have any ideas about it?
21 people like this
20 responses
@FourWalls (73040)
• United States
12 Feb
I wonder if the museum received it with that part missing.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (162875)
• United States
12 Feb
I am in line with this. A short little kid, not a baby, riding on the seat and parent pushing them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (349818)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Feb
@GardenGerty That would work. A toddler on the seat. Light flash - I wonder if the seat carried parcels/leaftets/shopping? Thought I still don't know how they'd steer it.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (49127)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
12 Feb
Yeah, how does it steer? I think someone built it after they had one too many special brownies.
3 people like this
@thedevilinme (4284)
• Northampton, England
12 Feb
Post Great War chair. No legs so pump the arm things to move forward I guess.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (349818)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Feb
@thedevilinme Of course!! I was thinking they were like oars and you'd go round and round if you only pulled one. Silly me!! 
@GardenGerty (162875)
• United States
12 Feb
I was leaning towards the idea of a little home made stroller for a toddler, because of the handle on back.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (349818)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Feb
That's just about the best suggestion so far. It would be hopeless for an adult unless they were missing their legs. And why is the back wheel geared like it is when there aren't any pedals? I'll need to go back and ask one day! lol
@snowy22315 (187079)
• United States
12 Feb
It looks like it might have some kind of rudder device on the front?
1 person likes this
@allknowing (143220)
• India
12 Feb
And the small wheel in front I wonder of what use it would be!
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@allknowing (143220)
• India
13 Feb
@JudyEv They should have left some notes behind
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (144791)
• United States
12 Feb
That looks... odd, to say the least. I wish you and Vince had tried to use it while you were there. There's nothing for the person to brace against while pumping the arms pieces, either.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (144791)
• United States
12 Feb
@JudyEv I think someone made it during a drunken state or else they "borrowed" something from pony... 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (349818)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Feb
For a moment I thought you could put a box on the seat and push from behind but that doesn't get round the steering issue.
@RevivedWarrior (3733)
• India
12 Feb
Sounds like an amazing discovery! It definitely raises a lot of questions about how it was used. Perhaps designed for someone who had a very specific disability or mobility requirement. That could only be the only logical explanation for its unusual structure. If arms were meant for propulsion perhaps steering was done with help of weights or with an additional mechanism. Does the museum or museum authorities not provide any background on same. Any details were written nearby? Sometimes it is intriguing to see historical innovations and wonder their backstories.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (84167)
• United States
12 Feb
I don't see how it could work very well as a wheelchair but it's interesting.
I'm loving the pictures you're sharing and would love to see that museum in person.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (349818)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Feb
There was so much to see in that museum. Most was very well signed too.
