Before we begin our discussion regarding manual wheelchairs, it is useful to breifly examine their history since manual wheelchairs have the distinction of having been around long before the development of the first powered wheelchairs.
According to the Wikipedia "Wheelchair" article, records of wheeled furniture date back to the 6th century B.C., having been traced back to a stone slate from China and a depiction of a child's bed in a frieze on a vase from Greece. Depictions of the Chinese using a wheelbarrow for the transportation of people with disabilities and of heavy items date back to the third century B.C.
Here are some images of early manual wheelchairs, all of which are used in the Wikipedia "Wheelchair" article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheelchair)
Chinese leader Confucius (554-479 B.C.) being transported in a wheelchair-type device that appears to resemble a wheelbarrow in its operation.
Image File Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xiao_er_lun_-_Confucius_and_children.jpg
Copyright Status: Public Domain
Antique Lacquer Wheelchair
Image Filename: Antique_lacquer_wheelchair.jpg
Image Link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Antique_lacquer_wheelchair.jpg
Copyright Status: Creative Commons Attribution
Wooden Wheelchair -- early 20th century
Image Filename: WoodWheelchair.jpg
Image Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WoodWheelchair.JPG
Copyright Status: Public domain
