Al Thieme built a battery-powered seat because his wife Marie, who had multiple sclerosis, hated being pushed in a wheelchair during a tiring holiday in Mexico.
Within nine months Al and engineer Gene Fisher produced a prototype that gave Marie independence for shopping and school outings, prompting immediate enthusiasm.
question_answer ANECDOTE
From Pickle Factory Platform To The Amigo
Al discovered a factory floor device in a nearby pickle factory and adapted it by adding a swivel seat and two forward/reverse speeds to make it suitable for people with walking limitations.
They named the vehicle Amigo after Marie's Mexico inspiration and because 'A' put it at the top of alphabetized lists.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Sell First To Users Who Live The Problem
Do target the specific user group who best understands the product's value first rather than established distribution channels that may dismiss innovation.
Al sold early Amigo units directly to women with MS and used the National MS Society magazine coverage to scale awareness.
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In 1967, American plumber Al Thieme promised his wife with multiple sclerosis that he would find her an alternative to a wheelchair.
He came up with a battery-powered seat on wheels.
He called it an ‘amigo’ and soon other people wanted one too. In 1968, he founded Amigo Mobility International and started selling his vehicles around the world.
He speaks to Rachel Naylor.
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(Photo: Al Thieme with an early model. Credit: Amigo Mobility International)
