The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-31
CLUTCHES.
Where They Are Made and What They
Are Made of.

Are Made of.
Nearly all the crutches made i'm this
country for use here and for export TO
foreign countries. principally to the
West Indies to Mexico. Central Amer
lea and South America, are made in
four or five factories in New England
and two or three factories in other
parts of the country. Perhaps three
fourths Of them are made in New En-
gland. a great number being produced
by single factory i'm New Hampshire.
\ few crutches are made To order out
side of the factories. but they are very
few. Almost without exception. and in
Guiding those made to order. crutches
are made i'm the factories. Most Of the
factories are located where they are
so as to he "a near as possible To for
ests Of suitable timber. and because OF
the greater cheapness of labor. Practi-
cally no crutches are imported.
Rock maple is the wood most used In
the manufacture of crutches. they are
made also OF Lakewood. rosewood.
hickory and other woods. and of bam-
boo. The great majority OF clutches
are now made of the modern style, the
spread or double bar crutch, so famil-
lar To the eye; but the old style crutch
has by no means gone entirely out OF
use. Perhaps 10 per cent of our
crutches are still made Of the old style.
"A single straight bar with an armpiece
across at the top. Clutches OF this
kind are sometimes made Of ash or
oak: they are more commonly sold
where but a single crutch is desired.
and where. therefore, greater strength
and stiffness are needed.
1t is not unusual for women who use
crutches To have two pairs-one for
ordinary use. and the other for more
formal occasions; the pair more com
monty used being more or less
scratched or married. Some women
l,aN oil an ma nf "A
ored wood. the other of dark. the bet
ter to match the gowns they might
wear. Men are not so particular as
this. but many of them buy clutches
Of fine materials. finely made and fin
ished In Spanish-American countries
men like crCtches handsomely ana
more deliberately mounted.
Clutches may he bought at almost
any price. a pair OF modern Couble-
bar crutches with rubber tips can be
bought for s.. perhaps for less From
that they run upward, according To
material and finish. Clutches are often
made with solid silver trimmings. ana
not infrcquently with gold trimmings
and with ivory handles and with ivory
armpieces. Probably SO to $50 pair
would cover the cost Of most OF the
finer crutches: some, however, cost $50,
$50 and more.
Crutch armpieces are finished in var
ious WAYS: many are covered with
leather. many are finished In pollShtu
wood: one of the newest styles IS
polished wood top finished i'm the shape
of n cows horn and so-called. There
are patents on cTutchcs, principally on
one end or the other, the top or the
tip. Rubber tips have been used Tor
many years. but there have been var
ious improvements I'm them. Formerly
"A piece of rubber was simply tackled on
to the end of the crutch. An improve
IL IUNV Ia a ~
of the crutch and projecting beyond
the end of IL. forming socket INTO
which the rubber could be inserted.
There is a stamp tip which can h"
opened and closed. so that the worn
rubber can be taken out and renewed.
Most of the rubber tips have openings
into which ice spikes can be inserted
in icy weather. a recent device com
bines ice spike. rubber and furrule
in such a manner that the ice spike can
be used or not. as desired.
Dealers say that the demand for
crutches increases more rapidly pro-
portionately than the increase OF the
population. This is accounted for by
the increasing accidents attending the
extended modern use of machinery in
one form or another and i'm some meas
ure IL Is attributed incidentally To i'm
proved methods of surgical practice
and the better manner i'm which frac-
tured limbs are now supported so that
patients are not only permitted To go
out on crutches. but are urged To go as
soon as they can safely do so.
While there are many regular users
Of crutches. still there are thousands
who use clutches only temporarily,
perhaps I'm getting over "A broken leg
or n sprain. and who never have occa-
sion To use them again. Some people
keep their clutches for the recollections
that attach To them: some hang them
on a wall like a trophy; thousands give
them to institutions where crutches are
needed. A large dealer said that the
annual production of crutches in this
country would amount to 20, 900 pairs
New York sun.