Peg Legs

The most surprising fact about the U. S. artificial limb business is not that it is a $6,000,000 industry engaging 300 firms, but that no less than 58% of U. S. manufacturers wear artificial limbs themselves. Last week when the Association of Limb Manufacturers of America met on the 18th floor of Chicago's La Salle Hotel for their 18th annua convention, more than half of the 100-odd delegates were able simultaneously to represent their companies and their stock in trade. During the two-day 'conclave activity was evenly divided between discussing the serious problems before the industry and outdoing the other fellow at such rigorous tests of artificial limb ability as dancing, skipping rope, knotting neckties.

There are 350,000 legless or armless people in the U. S. and another 35,000 are crippled annually by automobile accidents, railroad accidents and infectious diseases (in order of frequency). Many manufacturers got into the business by losing limbs, and most of their companies are located in or near big industrial centres. There are eight in Pittsburgh, eleven in Chicago, 15 in New York. Biggest is J. E. Hanger, Inc. of Washington, D. C. which has branches all over the U. S. & in Canada, Paris and London, claims $1,500,000 business annually. Oldest is Marks Artificial Limb Co. of New York, founded in 1853.

Twice as many leg amputations are below the knee as above. Arm amputations are about 50-50 above and below the elbow. About 80% of artificial limbs are legs, made from willow, aluminum or fibre and costing about $200 when attached below the knee, $225 when attached above. They weigh about five pounds, last five or six years. Artificial arms cost from $125 for simple types to $250 for those including movable wrists and hands. Wearers always remove their artificial limbs upon retiring, usually stow them under the bed. They can be donned in two or three minutes. Many wearers attach their stockings with thumbtacks, but manufacturers frown on this, recommend normal garters attached by screws, as is necessary with aluminum legs. Artificial legs have two advantages, according to Manufacturer Joe Spievak who retired as president of the limb makers last week: your feet do not perspire and you do not have to change socks often.

Joe Spievak lost both legs at 17 as a brakeman on the Erie Railroad, is so agile at 50 he can kick a football. Light-haired, bespectacled, he is president of Youngstown (Pa.) Artificial Limb Co., which turns out 150 limbs a year. To succeed him the delegates last week chose 50-year-old Clyde Aunger, who at 16 lost a leg in a trolley car accident. In business for himself in San Francisco since 1911, he was taken to Australia during the War to teach his trade. President Aunger's pride is a music box in the calf of his leg.

More colorful than either old President Spievak or new President Aunger is Philadelphia Limb Manufacturer Charles Harris Davies who has been minus part of his left leg since a coal mine accident when he was a boy, now does a thriving trade in aluminum limbs, has branches as far away as Argentina. He irks his confreres by being flamboyant, stealing publicity from the convention. This year, to circumvent him, the convention appointed a publicity committee. But, while the more serious minded of the delegates sat down to ponder such questions as whether they were professionals or business men, and how to improve their rather strained relations with surgeons, Mr. Davies again stole the show by introducing a 14-year-old airedale named Paul who has an aluminum rear leg which allows him to run, jump, sit up.

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