I discovered yesterday that in French a wheel clamp is known as a sabot de Denver (“Denver hoof/clog/shoe/boot”), and wondered what Denver has to do with wheel clamps.
On Wikipedia is explains that such devices were first used in Denver, Colorado, and are known as a wheel boot, parking boot or Denver boot in the USA. The wheel boot was invented by Frank Marugg in 1944 and first used in 1955 in Denver. One type of wheel clamp used in the UK was originally called the Preston, after Trevor Whitehouse, the inventor’s home town. They were first used in 1991 [source].
Are they used in other countries?
If so, what are they called?
I remember once on an episode of Aufwiedersehen Pet that they referred to a wheel clamp as a Catalan Clog!
Dutch is wielklem, literally “wheel clamp”. We hate them too much to give them cute names.