Iron lung respirator consists of (a) machine with metal chamber having 6 portholes, glass window at top and electrical lamp inside; chamber has smaller compartment at base with door and porthole; chamber is supported by 4 legs that rest on wooden platform with 4 rubber castors; wooden platform als…
Iron lung respirator consists of (a) machine with metal chamber having 6 portholes, glass window at top and electrical lamp inside; chamber has smaller compartment at base with door and porthole; chamber is supported by 4 legs that rest on wooden platform with 4 rubber castors; wooden platform also supports motor, metal drum with pipe leading to chamber, and electrical controls with plastic cable leading to chamber; metal encased cloth braided cable runs through machine and is cut; chamber houses pull out (b) bed frame with canvas (c)stretcher; machine includes separate items such as round (d) gage and rubber (e-f) belts, metal (g-h) trays, collection of (i) nuts and bolts, metal (j) grate, metal (k) handle; artifact has missing items such as porthole covers; engine and bellows.
Number Of Parts
11
Part Names
a - machine - Size: Length 2.0 m. x Width 1.49 m. x Depth 61.5 cm.
b - bed frame - Size: Length 1.97 m. x Width 1.43 m. x Depth 72.0 cm.
c - stretcher - Size: Length 1.78 m. x Width 54.0 cm. x Depth 4.0 cm.
d - gage - Size: Length 19.5 cm. x Width 15.0 cm. x Depth 9.0 cm.
e-f - belts - Size: Width 4.0 cm. x Diam. 26.0 cm.
g-h - trays - Size: Length 59.5 cm. x Width 8.6 cm. x Depth 2.3 cm.
i - nuts and bolt
j - grate - Size: Length 34.0 cm. x Width 19.0 cm. Depth 1.8 cm.
k - handle - Size: Length 13.0 cm. x Width 7.0 cm. x Depth 7.0 cm.
Stenciled with paint on two sides of chamber: "UNIT 11 // DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH / PROVINCE OF ONTARIO // DESIGNED AND BUILT BY // HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN // TORONTO"; impressed on metal plate affixed to unit: "RESPIRATOR // UNIT NO. 11 // DESIGNED & BUILT BY // HOSPITAL FOR // SICK CHILDREN // TORONTO, CAN. // 1937"; embossed on motor: "HAMILTON // GEAR & MACH CO // TORONTO // CANADA"; embossed on metal plate affixed to motor: "LUBRICATION OF WORM GEAR REDUCERS"; printed on face of gage: "Tycos // CERTIFIED // Taylor Instrument Companies // ROCHESTER, N.Y. // M/M"; printed on belt: "V80 // Gates High-Power II V-BELT 16C2240 B86".
Permanent Location
Storage Room W1
W1-Floor
Temporary Location
On display: "Vaccines and Immunization: Epidemics, Prevention, and Canadian Innovation"; Museum of Health Care, Nov. 28, 2013.
Condition Remarks
Rust throughout metal parts of artifact. Black paint flaking from castors, rubber of castors is stiff and cracking. Rubber around portholes and entrance to the chamber is discolored and pulverized. Silver paint on chamber is scratched and wood is stained and tarnished. The canvas of stretcher is stained and the cord is cut and has frayed ends. The porthole covers, engine and bellows are missing.
Rust throughout metal of iron lung; grate is especially rusted; black paint flaking from castors; rubber of castors is stiff and cracking; rubber around portholes and entrance to chamber discolored and pulverized; silver paint on chamber is scratched; wood is stained and tarnished; canvas of stretcher is stained; cloth braided cord is cut and ends frayed; portholes have residue around them.
Completely conserved 2013 by Canadian Consaervation Institute: fabricated new portholes, rubber membranes, head rest, motor and new leather belts, complete cleaning inside, etc.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Person
Document
JPG
Reference Comments
Interview with Felcity Pope in donor file; transcribed speech entitled "Thanks to Rotary Club" in donor file; CD #6; CD #7.
Research Facts
Used as artificial breathing for victims of polio with chest paralysis. One of 27 iron lungs made at the Hospital for Sick Children and distributed throughout Ontario. Models from this era are rare as they were fabricated at the Sick Kids Workshop and are of crude construction. This piece, number 11, was built on-site and only one other in Canada is known. See research file. This model was ordered for Kingston General Hospital.