+ Dr. Stephen Hawking sitting

A motorised BEC Mobility wheelchair, used from the late-1980s to the mid-1990s.

Approx. 127 x 58 x 72cm. Made in England by BEC Mobility, c.1988 (serial number: 440609), covered in red and maroon leather; motor manufactured by Penny & Giles Drives Technology. [With, detached:] one metal footrest and a leather-covered cushion support. Provenance: the estate of the late Professor Stephen Hawking.

The earliest surviving example of a wheelchair used by Stephen Hawking

Hawking relied upon a series of wheelchairs from the end of the 1960s until his death; the constituent parts of the chairs were updated as his needs progressed (most importantly the electronic elements such as the motor) and two chairs were generally in rotation at any given time, to allow him the use of a back-up if required. The present example was used by Stephen Hawking from the end of the 1980s until the early years of the 1990s, before he became unable to use his hands to drive a wheelchair: photographs from the time (such as the example shown here) show this model in use with various modifications apparent, such as in the model and position of the motor.

CONTROLS

•PITCH > ACCELERATION
•ROLL > TURN
•BRAKE > BRAKES