If you lost a hand in the 19th century, you might have been lucky enough to get one of these…

London Science Museum

Being a supervillian probably would have helped too.

According to the London Science Museum:

London Science Museum
London Science Museum

Being a supervillian probably would have helped too.

According to the London Science Museum:

Made from steel and brass, this prosthetic arm articulates in a number of ways. The elbow joint can be moved by releasing a spring, whereas the top joint of the wrist allows a degree of rotation and an up-and-down motion. The fingers can also curl up and straighten out. The leather upper arm piece is used to fix the prosthesis to the remaining upper arm. The rather sinister appearance of the hand suggests the wearer may have disguised it with a glove. Among the most common causes of amputation throughout the 1800s were injuries received as a result of warfare.