Gillingham soon became known as the “prosthetic genius” and stunned the medical world of the day. The city of Chard, where he worked, became a major center for the British prosthesis industry. “Soon I began to gain fame. Making prostheses took a long time, so I left the first business and devoted myself completely to a new business. It was necessary to acquire a factory, a forge, lathes and tools, and learn how to use them. Later I started working with metal, wood, plaster, leather and fabrics. I had to ask for much less than the norm for my work in order to establish myself in this area, “said Gillingham.
