In the mid 1950s at 3 years of age, I apparently had a minor bout with the polio virus but never knew it. My parents worked hard to keep it a secret. At one point in time, I was with my parent to what I later learned was THE only brace shop available at the time. Dad met with a man in a white coat in private away from Momma and me.
Some years later, Momma mentioned something about the braces I was supposed to have had as a toddler and Daddy made it very clear the the subject of that time was to NEVER be spoken again. I have read that the common standard for starting a polio patient with braces was to brace from the hipsvto the toes. Itvwas easier on the patient to remove unnecessary support to make it seem as if progress was underway instead of having to add additional support. I have to wonder if Daddy was shown some new ones like these and refused to impliment that form of treatment. We did change doctors over some type of treatment plan disagreement. I crawled on hands and knees until I started school a couple years later. It has been a mystery over the years as pieces of the puzzel were gathered and fitted into place.
My neurologist tested and determined I had the signs of polio in my past after a knee collasped and 59 years later, the second trip to a braceshop ended later with a pair that I still use to keep my knees from hyperextending. My knees are no longer in constant pain and I find the fit and function is comfortable. But I do wonder what would it have been if Daddy and Momma had agreed with the doctor. One thing for sure, there would have been no secret kept.
When my friends and I were very young kids, you used to be able to get through the wall of St Ebba’s and play in the field. We used to often talk to this man who stayed there who was called Elvis (he was obviously mentally unwell) but a lovely man. We obviously as well shouldn’t have been talking to random strange men at the age of 7 but we used to see him in there a lot so we would always say hi and sit with him for a while.
We would also walk into some of the abandoned blocks and have a look around. I can still see it so vividly in my mind, it was quite scary/creepy for young kids to be doing. But we lived exploring! I would love to of had photos of the rooms I went in. We saw some of the wards with old beds etc. Did you see any of this???
This would have been in the mid 90s for me!
Although it says Laundry it appears to involve a bit more than just clothing. On the left there is a cobblers last on its base with another anvil behind it so it seems they repaired footwear too.
It looks a lot like a heavy duty leather sewing machine, used by saddle makers and cobblers, like another post said. Champion is a US brand that used to be popular. Some of the other pictures show harneses and braces, and that could be the sort of thing this would have sewn.
If that was what it was it would have had at least one foot lever. They don't have an arm like a normal sewing machine, you sort of sew on the side of it, not through it.
Some years later, Momma mentioned something about the braces I was supposed to have had as a toddler and Daddy made it very clear the the subject of that time was to NEVER be spoken again. I have read that the common standard for starting a polio patient with braces was to brace from the hipsvto the toes. Itvwas easier on the patient to remove unnecessary support to make it seem as if progress was underway instead of having to add additional support. I have to wonder if Daddy was shown some new ones like these and refused to impliment that form of treatment. We did change doctors over some type of treatment plan disagreement. I crawled on hands and knees until I started school a couple years later. It has been a mystery over the years as pieces of the puzzel were gathered and fitted into place.
My neurologist tested and determined I had the signs of polio in my past after a knee collasped and 59 years later, the second trip to a braceshop ended later with a pair that I still use to keep my knees from hyperextending. My knees are no longer in constant pain and I find the fit and function is comfortable. But I do wonder what would it have been if Daddy and Momma had agreed with the doctor. One thing for sure, there would have been no secret kept.