The treadmill's dark and twisted past - Conor Heffernan | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Treadmills were originally invented as a form of punishment for English prisoners in the 1800s but later became popular for fitness purposes.

Key Insights

• ❓ Treadmills were originally created as a means of punishment for English prisoners in the 1800s.
• 👶 The invention of treadmills helped reform the prison system and introduce new forms of rehabilitation.
• ❓ Treadmills were popularized for fitness purposes during the jogging craze in the 1970s.
• 🤕 Treadmills were banned in England and faced criticism for their cruel nature as a punishment.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Why were treadmills originally invented?

Treadmills were invented as a form of punishment for English prisoners in the 1800s to help reform the prison system and provide a means of rehabilitation.

Q: How did the original treadmills work?

The original treadmills had prisoners stepping on a large paddle wheel, forcing them to keep stepping up or risk falling off. The rotation of the wheel powered mills and performed other tasks.

Q: How did treadmills become popular for fitness purposes?

In the 1970s, during the jogging craze, treadmills gained popularity as a convenient way to improve aerobic fitness and lose weight. They have since remained a popular exercise machine.

Q: When and why were treadmills banned in England?

Treadmills were banned in England in the late 19th century under the Prison's Act of 1898 for being excessively cruel as a form of punishment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Treadmills were created in the 1800s to punish English prisoners and were part of a movement to reform the prison system.

• The original version of the treadmill, invented by Sir William Cubitt, forced prisoners to step on a large paddle wheel and power mills through their rotation.

• Treadmills spread across the British Empire and America but were eventually banned in England for being excessively cruel.