FOOT-WRITING.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1920, Page 11

FOOT-WRITING.

WONDERFUL MACHINE FOR ARMLESS. A demonstration of the possibilities of an almost uncanny mechanical substitute for lost limbs has been given at the Ministry of Pensions in London. The inventor, Mr. George Thompson, an Edinburgh gasfitter, explained in a rich brogue the working of the machine.

The appliance, which can be fixed to any table, is worked by the feet, a knob being held between the big and the adjoining toe. Levers connect with two "arms," one on each side of the table. Other appliances, ilxed on a stand, are ased for various actions. The "arms" move over to the stand and pick out any of the appliances, such as a knife, pencil or scissors.

Mr. Thompson, without using his hands, cut up food and placed it in his mouth, drank from a cup, pencilled a design on a sheet of paper, and cut it out with scissors, picked up a pen and wrote legibly, worked a typewriter, and played a dulcimer!

One remarkable test was the lighting of a cigarette. All the operations were carried out with marvellous precision and delicacy. Another appliance invented by Mr. Thompson is the "foot-writer." A fountain pen is in a fixed position, and the writing is done by moving the table, on which paper is placed, at different angles.

When a fresh piece of paper is required the writer, with his mouth, unclips a fastener, and takes and puts on paper by a vacuum tube made out of a penny trumpet, to which is fixed a rubber ring. Explaining the origin of the machines Mr. Thompson said: "In 1912 a woman friend lost her sight and could not write by ordinary means. I wanted to help her, and made a machine similar to my 'foot-writer.'

"In 10ip I saw a query in a mechanical journal from a man who had lost both arms in the war. The man was trying to write with his feet and asked for some hints. I thought I could put him right with regard to that and worked on constructing my/machine. I at once saw that the machine for writing with the feet could be adapted to many other ujsb."

Surprise having been expressed that Mr. Thompson was a gasfitter, he quietly replied: "If you want a new thing in any trade you have to go outside that trade for it."

"J. have combed my hair with the machine," Mr. Thompson added, "and I am sure boots could be repaired with it. T have not tried to shave with it, but r (tli, it could be done if a safety razor »l. used."

A demons c va tion was made with both machines „, "Mr. Thompson beforo the Advisory Committee of the Ministry, and Sir Charles Kenderdine, the Director of Artificial Limbs, told a Daily Mail reporter that the Ministry were much impressed with the invention. "It will probably be tested in one of our training schools, and if the Ministry approve, the machines will be supplied to armless mm. We cannot do too much for these men." Sir Charles added.