Orthopaedic brace
Category
Medical & health
Date
c. 1950 - c. 1960
Materials
Leather shoe with rubber sole, metal supports and synthetic padding
Measurements
90 mm (Height) x 75 mm (Depth); 170 mm (Length)
Collection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 672704
Summary
A child's orthopaedic leg brace for the left foot, consisting of a brown leather shoe manufactured by Piedro, attached to two metal struts that provide support for the ankle and lower leg up to the thigh. The shoe has a rubber sole and has straps at the top and bottom to allow for tightening of fit, both of these with small metal buckles for fastening. There are also three pairs of small metal hooks or clasps through which a shoelace is threaded. A moveable metal strut is attached to either side of the shoes sole with these having five leather straps that can be fastened and tightened around the leg. There is one strap around the ankle, one immediately below and one immediately above the knee and two at the top around the thigh. The top two straps are fastened with velcro with the others fastened with small metal buckles. There is an additional leather strap located below the knee that would provide support to the rear of the calf with this strap having no means of fastening or adjustment. A further leather support is located behind the knee which can be fastened and tightened using a lace that is threaded through six metal eyelets. The part of the brace that would provide support to the thigh incorporates some white padding made of synthetic material and there is also padding in the area that supports the knee. Each of the metal struts has five small screw holes in the bottom section which appear to allow for the height of the brace to be adjusted.
Provenance
Leg brace manufactured circa 1950 - 1960 using a shoe made by Piedro. Purchased by The National Trust via ebay in June 2019 as part of the Collecting Cultures Exploring Childhoods project.
Marks and inscriptions
Inner sole and bottom of shoe: Makers name stamped on inner sole and on bottom of shoe. Also the number 24