War Time Leg Splint

Designed between 1941 and 1942, the Eames Leg Splint was an ingenious entire re-design of the medical support apparatus and was a significant contribution to the second world war effort by Charles Eames and those who helped bring the splint from prototype to work in the field.

The idea was the brainchild of Wendell G Scott, a fully trained medical doctor and a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy Reserves. Existing splints used by the US Navy had proven to be poorly designed and endangered the unfortunate servicemen further by potential issues such as loss of circulation and being heavy and cumbersome. Scott was introduced to Charles Eames and the work he was doing to pioneer the molding of plywood and all its potential possibilities. 

Charles, along with others, creating a fledgling company called the Plyformed Wood Company (Plyformed being the adopted name of the new molded material) and set to work on producing splints in great numbers, having secured a contract from the US Navy in November 1942, thanks to a prototype based on Charles' own leg. By this point Charles had left his position at the MGM studios to concentrate on the work and had taken others too to help in the effort, including one Harry Bertoia.

With money and materials in scarce supply, the company reached out to Evans Products, a giant US company in the wood products industry. In return for the patents of the design and the fusion of the Plyformed Wood Company into its own subsidiary, Evans was able to resource limitless supplies of material, labor and funding.

The splint would go on to be a great success and it is estimated that 150,000 may have been produced. Evans in collaboration with Charles also made many other wartime prototypes including a body litter, arm splint, pilot seat and even plane flaps.

Perfection in the making, the Eames Leg Splint has largely become a collector’s item, an early example of the work of the master, something to be enjoyed for its visual beauty, sculpture and craftsmanship. Indeed, these are virtuous qualities and especially when you consider that almost 99% of examples found today are still wonderfully intact after all these years. But the splint is more than that, much more, and there is consensus among some that it could even be the very best design that Charles Eames ever made.

It would have been easy just to recreate a leg splint with a few improvements to satisfy as a replacement of what was already a poor functional design. The end result however was far from it, being a complete and utter re-design and an entirely revolutionized product. 

Details indeed, so many facets of the 'design need' had been brainstormed, developed and integrated into the final product that had literally thought of everything. The below text may seem like that of a modern sales page pitch but were in fact the real details, details, details and the features of this wonderful design:

• Made from a new molded plyformed wood, the structure is made from one-piece and needs no construction of parts.
• The new plywood design is so light that it can be lifted with one finger, making transportation both on or off the patient easy.
• The design is such that they fit into each other when stacked meaning that it is easily possible to carry 12 at one time.
• The new plyformed technology is so strong that they will not suffer from shock or impact damage or indeed warp at all.
• Is designed to fit the leg, the design fitting from the buttock down to the heel with contoured comfort.
• Can be used on either the left or right leg and no extra padding is required.

The US Navy Medical Bulletin was produced to keep war time doctors in the field abreast of medical developments including the new splint

The first page of the September 1943 Navy medical bulletin detailing the availability of the new Eames Leg Splint

• The new plyform material being wood based means it does not need to be removed for X-ray.
• Can be used with or without shoes, with or without clothing.
• Has a top coat protective layer for easy cleaning and re-use.
• Has a shaped section especially for the foot and heel to sit in a natural position, one of the main issues with the past splints.
• Has ready made slots for bandages to secure the leg in various locations.
• Offers unbelievable value for money, at a tenth of the cost of metal splints.
• Made using natural materials found in the US and in limitless supply.

The US Naval Medical Bulletin was an important bi-monthly publication aimed at keeping officers of the Navy medical corp up to date with such things as new developments, practices and procedures as well as topical, current and helpful articles. The September 1943 edition contained articles on head war wounds, treating combat fatigue and state of shock, among many. It also contained a four page introduction to a new piece of 'field apparatus', the Eames leg splint. The written article underlined the advantages of the new equipment as well as pictorial instructions on how to use it.  

• Authenticity is all but guaranteed as there are no known copies of this masterful design. In case there is any doubt, a model number and makers ink stamps are found on the splints.
• Splints have become every Eames enthusiast and collector's favorite. They offer an almost sculptural appearance with their molded plywood curves and there are countless numbers adorning walls the world over. This desirability has seen prices skyrocket over recent years, especially when you consider the simplicity of the product. The practical nature and early wartime design is the fuel to this collector drive that the splint has/is going through.
• The number that are found fully intact is remarkable. Very few are found with damage or warping but do check for chips, cracks and noticeable shape deformity as they will affect the overall value.
• Wrapped splints are the most valuable in the secondary marketplace, likely due to their virgin nature. Indeed a US Navy store was discovered in LA full of OEM splints sometime in the 2000's. This offers a dilemma to the collector because wrapped you don't enjoy the beauty of the design but the removal of the wrapping will undermine its current value. It is also impossible to remove and replace the style of paper it is made with.
• Full boxes of splints are rarely found and they are a genuine collector's investment.

Evans Products, the US plywood giant, was the supplier of the materials and finished product to the US Navy, denoted by stamp on the splint boxes and labels.