Litters

[bonniegreenflag]

Does anyone know of a source for authentic stretchers or at least patterns? I have done alot of searching on search engines but I cant find anything. Perhaps an official government pattern? I will try and find one if possible but help would be appreciated.

[verg]

Re: Litters

Looking through some of the material I have at hand I can offer a few choices:

The Government pattern for ambulance litters
Satterlees Patent Brace
and sources for other types.
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Ok, the first is the Government pattern:

LITTER SPECIFIED IN 1861 CONTRACT FOR COOLIDGE AMBULANCES

DESCRIPTION OF THE LITTER

Litter frame sill outside is 6 feet 4 ¾ inches, and 22 inches wide, 2 ¾ x 1 in.; the side panels are 6 inches wideX ½ inch thick. The legs, which form the handles also, 2 feet long, 1 3/4 in. X 1 1/4 in., secured to the inside of the sill by bolt, so as to turn up even with the sill; slots cut.in front end of frame to allow the legs to turn up to form the handles. There is a set or thumb-screw in each leg to fasten them to the sills, when not in service as a litter. There is 4 small trunk rollers set in each corner of frame to roll it in without difficulty.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INCLINED PLANES.

On litter sills is placed at one end 1 inclined plane or frame 2 feet 6 inches long, 22 inches wide, with 7 slats to support the mattress; these slats are 2 inches wide and screwed on the frame, and duplicate side pieces on the bottom of the same, with hinges at each end to elevate the patient as maybe required (at head) when laying on the litter, the same supported by the duplicate side pieces; the upright or side pieces are kept in position by one rack on each side made of cast iron, with teeth; this rack is 13 inches long, teeth are1 ½ inch long, left into the sill even with the top, and are clipped around the ends with iron to hold in the rack teeth.
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At the other end of the litter is double inclined plane, with hinges 2 inches from centre towarfs the front, to raise and lower, and duplicate side pieces about 5 inches from front end, to have a cast iron rack same as in front; this inclined plane is made so that the lower extremities of the patient can be raised at the knee or foot as the state of the case may require.

Both these inclined planes are fastened in the centre of sill to centre piece (5 inches wide) by strap hinges; this frame work is of light wood, slats are ½ inch thick, and all arranged to lay level or flat on the sills of litter frame.

MATTRESS
In 3 sections, to be made of ordinary thickhess, the foot section is 19 ½ inches long to joint, 2nd same length, 3rd or head 2 feet 9 incheslong; these are jointed cm the top by binding, and are calculated to fit on the inclinedm planes; a small bolster is fastened on the head section, and there is a small pillow for each mattress in addition to the bolsters; the mattress is made of best ticking, and stuffed with best curled hair; the pillows are stuffed with hair.

Source: National Archives, Non-indexed Quartermaster's Correspondence to 1880, Box 1, Ambulances.

See the picture of the regimental ambulances below for examples. There is a fine example at the National Civil War Museum in Frederick, MD. http://www.civilwarmed.org/exhibits.cfm about half way down the page.
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The Coolidge litters are rather bulky. Satterlee offered a patent design that made the more conventional litter (two poles with canvas stretched between) more managable. See picture of the patent brace below.

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If you go back to the Civil War Museum link (http://www.civilwarmed.org/exhibits.cfm) you will see two other stretchers displayed. I would not recommend you use the rope one as it is very prone to sagging.

[bonniegreenflag]

Re: Litters

Thanks for the help. Excellant resources.

[David Meister]

Re: Litters

It would be nice to have a drawn plan for one

[verg]

Re: Litters

If you go to: http://www.thefieldhospital.com/1859ambulance you can see a pair of them in context with the ambulance they were made for - both in and out.

[David Meister]

Re: Litters

Thank You. Does anyone have any plans available?