The treadmill's dark and twisted past - Conor Heffernan

TL;DR

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

Transcript

The constant thud underneath your feet, the constrained space, and the monotony of going nowhere fast. It feels like hours have gone by, but it's only been eleven minutes, and you wonder, "Why am I torturing myself? This thing has got to be considered a cruel and unusual punishment." Actually, that's exactly what it is, or was. You see, in the 18... Read More

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.

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.