The Eames Leg Splint.
Some objects are designed to serve a specific function but then unexpectedly take on characteristics that transport them to greater heights. This is one such object and it is one of my favorites. As on orthopedic surgeon who collects modern chairs, this object is for me a veritable treasure. A sandwich of Douglas fir and birch veneers, this leg splint designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the US Navy in 1942 has become an icon of functional design.
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Charles Eames had begun experimenting with the process of molding plywood into compound-curved shapes in 1940. By 1941, the Eames had fabricated a primitive plywood molding apparatus in their apartment and had begun working on compound-curved chair seats. In December 1941, it came to their attention that the Navy was having difficulties with metal fracture splints used in the field. The Eames’ immediately began work on a light molded plywood splint. Using Charles’ leg as an initial mold, they eventually developed a symmetrical leg splint incorporating appropriate contours to accommodate the upper thigh, the calf and the heel. This was a significant advance as the metal splints in current use were sufficiently non-conforming as to cause severe pressure sores especially under the heel with prolonged transport of patients.
The Eames leg splint was light, sturdy and washable and it nested well for storage and transport. Patients were comfortable in the splint primarily because of the anatomical contouring and enhanced immobilization of the fractures. Traction was applied by means of a makeshift cloth turnbuckle.
In November 1942, the US Navy placed an order for 5,000 leg splints and the Eames’ and some colleagues formed the Plyformed Wood Company in Venice, California. In October 1943, the rights to produce and distribute Plyformed Wood Products’ leg splints were sold to the Evans Products Company, a Detroit-based manufacturer of industrial equipment and lumber products. Eames’ company subsequently changed its name to the Molded Plywood Division, a West Coast subsidiary of Evans Products Company. By the end of the war, 150,000 leg splints had been manufactured and shipped to the Navy.
I acquired my Eames leg splint from the VITRA museum, a German institution that is a major caretaker of the Eames estate. Mounted on a plinth, the splint is often and understandably mistaken for a sculpture. More photos of my Eames leg splint can be found here.
Joseph Froncioni
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