2010.0620

Artificial arm prosthesis for left long below / through wrist amputation or congenital limb deficiency; junior / small adult; RSL Steeper,1972. Adjustable blocked leather socket with chamois lining and leather straps and buckles that finishes below elbow; metal side strengthening struts; metal wrist unit. Canvas webbing suspension straps (harness) with buckle that goes round user’s back and opposite shoulder to secure prosthesis; plastic cover positioned under opposite arm for hygiene; straps at elbow level to maintain stability of prosthesis; Steeplon hand with spring loaded thumb.

Inscription

25-1-72

Production date

1972

Production organisations

RSL Steeper

Labels

The following information on Steeplon hands was provided by Robin Cooper, who worked for the Steeper Group from 1966 to 2008 as an upper limb prosthetist and branch manager, overseeing Research and Development after the mid-1980s and later supervising overseas operations. See Digital Assets for the full text, including further detail on the manufacturing process.

Steeplon was a material and technique used by Hugh Steeper Limited to manufacture passive artificial hands from the late 1940s to the early 2000s. These processes were used to make hands in a range of sizes and to a variety of individual specifications. Originally, a pair of leather gloves was supplied to enhance grip and make wearing a prosthesis less obvious.

Usually, hands were made to a standard pattern with a spring-loaded thumb, its tip in opposition to the flank of the first finger, allowing documents or other objects to be held between finger and thumb. Fingers were curved so as to provide a means of carrying a bag. Four colours were supplied; Flesh, Suntan, Mid tan and Dark tan.
As the residual limb (stump) is long, the socket has been custom made to open along the front to enable the user to get the prosthesis on. The socket is then secured in place using the adjustable leather straps with buckles. The spring loaded thumb of the Steeplon hand gives a light grip between the thumb and shaft of the index finger e.g. for holding paper; the fingers are fixed and are in a curved (flexed) position to enable carrying of light objects. The hand can be rotated manually with the user’s other hand and locked into position. It can be interchanged with a variety of different terminal devices depending on the activities being undertaken. A strap attached to harness could operate ‘active’ devices e.g. a split hook through movement of the shoulders to alter the tension on the straps.

Steeper is a prosthetics company founded in 1921 as Hugh Steeper Ltd, initially based in Roehampton, London near the major prosthetics hospital for wounded soldiers. They were involved in making artificial limbs for wounded servicemen and then within the NHS when this was established in 1948. From the 1950s onwards, they played a leading role in the development and provision of prostheses for children with limb deficiencies caused by the thalidomide drug. Steeper moved their headquarters to Leeds in 1969 from where they still operate, with the grandson of the founder being the current CEO. They also supply orthotics (splints) and environmental controls.