Circa 1950 Homemade Science Project of Working Iron Lung
Item Details
A circa 1950 homemade science project of a working iron lung. An ‘iron lung’ is a negative pressure ventilator that enables a person to breathe. Although developed in the 1930s, the machine is often times directly associated to the polio outbreak of the 1950s. This replica was made as a science project (as indicated by the writing on the box) and shows a young girl doll inside an iron lung. This very detailed unit even includes the mirror at the top that would have allowed the patient to look at themselves and around the room, during their standard one to two week stay in the unit. The iron lung has a motor, with two cords and switches, that allows a light to illuminate the interior and the bellows at the end of the unit to function causing the exposed lungs to fill and collapse. This can be seen through the unit’s apertures. The thermometers to the top are not functioning and one of them is not attached. The top is dented and paint is peeling.
Condition
- works, top is dented, paint is peeling, thermometer detached.
Dimensions
- measures the box, the unit is 19.5"W x 16.5"H x 8.5"D.
Item #
16CIN148-158
