Lucite Canes Have Long History

The origin of the cane is said to have come about when two monks from Persia used hollowed-out staves to smuggle silkworms from China. It has also has been said that Voltaire, a French philosopher owned 60 canes and Jean J. Rousseau owned about 40 of them. Today, canes are available in a number of different styles and materials, including silver and Lucite canes. You can even get a cane that has been designed and custom fitted just for you and your particular needs.

During the eighteenth century canes became especially trendy and were quite possibly more of a fashion statement than an aid in walking. Both men and women owned and carried a good selection of walking sticks and canes. They were even used as a wallet or purse as things could be placed inside and out of sight in a woman's cane, while the men would hide revolvers and liquor inside the cane and at times carried a sword cane as well.

Over 1500 patent applications were submitted during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries for many different kinds of these "gadget canes." There were some custom canes available that would allow women to conceal a little bit of alcohol in their canes and a photographer may have one that would convert into a tripod. Of course with the clear Lucite canes of today it would be a bit more difficult to hide the contents of one's cane.

Whether it was for what they called medicinal purposes, or used as a traveling tavern, or perhaps for smuggling devices or some other type of use, these fancy canes quickly became a status symbol for the more self-indulgent. The different types of treasures that could be hidden were almost infinite. Of particular interest were the custom made canes that were carried by morticians in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Due to many epidemics of the era, their canes were equipped with a brass rod that would slide out and could be used to take measurements, making it much easier to quickly determine casket sizes.

You may be pleasantly surprised when you see how many different styles are available today to ensure that your cane is also fashionable. Not all canes come with regular handles, as you can order a custom cane handle that is twisted or has a grip that is comfortable for you. The lucite canes available today come in many different colors or you can get one that is a clear tube, which you can fill with items of your choice or change the contents in order to get an all new look for your cane.

Related topics about lucite canes

Walking Canes

Regular canes, fancy canes or custom canes are considered a proper fit if your elbow is flexed about 15 to 19 degrees when holding your cane when standing. Experts advise that you choose a cane that is the lightest it can be while still supporting your weight.