A high level overview of the history of the elevator. From its ancient origins to current day technology when and who were responsible for developing the elevator we all use. ;xNLx;.;xNLx;Joel Duncan & Leiden Bao
Vitruvius documented the first Elevator built by Archimedes
Integrated network of 32 elevator cages that carried gladiators
Treadmill hoisting machine powered by donkeys
Konrad Kyeser designed the first elevator that was made to use pulling ropes
Idea of Steam used to pump water out of mines
First elevator specifically designed to move people.
James Watt patented the steam engine.
Oliver Evans invented a belt system used in flour mills
Ivan Kulibin makes the first screw based elevator
Ascending room that led to a 37 meter high platform
Burgomaster Durrell developed a system to raising and lowering men
Belt-driven, counterweighted, steam-drive lift
Steam-powered grain elevator was invented in Buffalo, New York in 1843
The first hydraulic industrial lift appeared
First parachute safety was invented for use in mine lifts
Elisha Graves Otis, invented the first safety brake for elevators.
Otis is founded as a company one year later in 1853
Construction for Peter Cooper's Cooper Union Foundation building in New York
Otis demonstrates the elevator at the World's Fair, Crystal Palace exposition in New York City.
1857, first commercial passenger elevator was installed in the E.V. Haughwout and Company department store at Broadway and Broome Street in New York City.
Patent for improvements to hoisting apparatus safety brake
Hydraulic elevators introduced for commercial
Schindler group founded in Switzerland
J.W. Meaker patented a method which permitted elevator doors to open and close safely.
Unlucky for some the numbers 4, 13 and 14 are often skipped in elevators
Werner von Siemens built the world's first electric elevator
American Inventor Alexander Miles of Duluth, Minnesota patented an elevator with automatic doors that would close off the elevator shaft.
First all-electric elevator in Australia
It is the Otis “public lift” constructed in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1901, and it is still operating.
Gearless traction electric machine first used in 1903.
It was installed in the Singer Building New York City in 1908 It was the tallest building in the world from its completion until 1909. It was demolished in 1968 and is now the site of 1 Liberty Plaza.
KONE founded.
Boston's first elevator code became effective.
May 25, 1914 Prepare the first constitution and set of bylaws: “Code of Elevator Regulations,” “Patent Situation,” “Elevator Specifications” and “Standard Forms”
Phillip Randolph formed the first elevator operators union.
A protective curtain, usually of wrought iron, was the usual safety device made compulsory in France by Law.
Music was originally used to sooth passengers fearful of riding elevators
OTIS Elevator Co installed the first automatic elevator requiring no attendants
Otis Installed in the 67-story Cities Service building at 70 Pine Street in New York City.
The only reported case of an elevator going into free fall was after a B-25 Bomber crashed into the side of the Empire State Building
OTIS installs elevators and escalators into Kasumigaseki Building in Tokyo Japan.
300m/min
450m/min
an effort to reduce the elevator required floor space multiple elevators use a single shaft.
600m/min
Kone introduces the first elevator controlled by microprocessor computers.
From 1981 to 1989 OTIS applied for a number of Patents to increase the traffic volume.
Most elevators installed since 1990 in the US have non-functioning close door buttons.
Although originally considered in 1961 by Leo Port from Sydney the technology required to implement it was not available.
950m/min
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