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Glass Place Mat : Prisoners Working on the Treadmill, c1934
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Prisoners Working on the Treadmill, c1934
Prisoners Working on the Treadmill, c1934. Illustration showing the 19th century method of forcing idle prisoners to take exercise. The accompanying text explains the mechanism, and says that it was all useless labour and served no purpose...Attempts were made to utilise this labour for profitable purposes, but nothing came of the idea. Initially the treadmill fact was intended to be pointless and punish; resistance to the motion was provided by straps and weights. However it later became acceptable to use the energy to power pumps and corn mills, and many prisons in England adopted this form of hard labour to grind grain. Treadmills were abolished in 1902. From The Romance of the Nation, Volume Two, edited by Charles Ray. [The Amalgamated Press, Ltd. London, c1934]
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Media ID 15342826
© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images
Charles Ray Cruel Cruelty Diagram Exercise Forced Labour Industrial Revolution Invention Penitentiary Power Prison Prisoner Punishment Treadmill Manpower Pointless
Glass Place Mat (Set of 4)
Set of 4 Glass Place Mats. Stylish and elegant polished safety glass, toughened and heat resistant (275x225mm, 7mm thick). Matching Coasters also available.
Set of 4 Glass Place Mats. Elegant polished safety glass and heat resistant. Matching Coasters may also be available
Estimated Image Size (if not cropped) is 21.4cm x 25.4cm (8.4" x 10")
Estimated Product Size is 22.5cm x 27.5cm (8.9" x 10.8")
These are individually made so all sizes are approximate
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photo print, titled "Prisoners Working on the Treadmill, c1934" provides a glimpse into the 19th-century method of enforcing exercise upon idle prisoners. The accompanying text sheds light on this futile labor, highlighting its lack of purpose. Initially designed as a means to punish inmates, resistance was created through straps and weights attached to the treadmill. However, despite its initial pointlessness, later adaptations allowed for harnessing the energy produced by these prisoners to power pumps and corn mills. The image captures an era when prisons in England adopted this form of hard labor to grind grain. It serves as a reminder of both the cruelty imposed upon those incarcerated during that time and the ingenuity behind utilizing their physical exertion for productive purposes. This illustration comes from "The Romance of the Nation". Volume Two edited by Charles Ray. With its monochrome aesthetic evoking nostalgia for a bygone era, this photograph transports viewers back in time to witness an event that played a significant role in British history—the industrial revolution's impact on prison systems. While treadmills were eventually abolished in 1902 due to evolving societal attitudes towards punishment and rehabilitation, this image stands as a testament to an innovative yet ultimately flawed attempt at penal reform.
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