The evolution of elevators from man-powered machines to electric-driven devices
Imagine this: You are visiting the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building and you wish to go to its topmost floor. What do you do? Yes, of course you can take the stairs, but that would take forever; let alone the fact that you will be left gasping for breath. So, does that mean your vacation will remain incomplete? Far from it. After all, there’s no need to worry when the world has a blessing known as elevator! From ancient elevators with collapsible gate, to the modern-day fancy versions with glass walls allowing people quite a scenic tour, elevators have come a long way. On that note, do you know when or how elevators were invented? Not a clue? Well, no need to worry, as today we are here to trace the journey alongside you.
From ancient elevators to that of King Louis XV
If you were thinking that elevators are modern-day inventions, you couldn’t be more wrong. In fact, elevators have existed from as early as 236 BC. It has been mentioned by ancient Roman architect Vitruvius in several historical documents that he collaborated with Archimedes to build perhaps the world’s first elevator-like device, that could transport both people and freight, from one level to another. Such prehistoric elevators were either operated by humans, or animals or by water wheel power.
While the world continued to modify on elevator designs, it wasn’t until 1743, that elevators became a rage in Europe when King Louis XV commissioned a personal elevator connecting his apartment in Versailles to that of his mistress, Madame de Chateauroux, who lived a floor above him. This particular elevator was counter-weighted and man-powered.
World welcomes steam-operated elevator
Thanks to King Louis XV, engineers around the world found an innovative idea to work on – building elevators that wouldn’t need human efforts to run. Thus, steam-operated elevators were born in 1823 in the hands of two English architects, Burton and Homer who built “ascending room” to offer tourists a lift ride (it was of course chargeable!) that would give them a panoramic view of London. Soon, another architect duo Frost and Stuart built the “Teagle” that was a belt-driven, counter-weighted and steam-operated elevator primarily meant for carrying materials across factories, mines and warehouses.
Next up: Hydraulic crane elevator
It was the year 1846 when English engineer Sir William Armstrong gifted the world a hydraulic crane. However, he took it till the 1870s to modify on his own design and replace steam-driven elevators with the hydraulic-operated ones. What he did was fairly simple: He made the hydraulic elevator by using heavy pistons that moved in a cylinder and was run by water (or even oil in some cases) pressure produced by pumps located underneath.
Inception of safety elevator and elevator brake
An American inventor named Elisha Otis joined a bedstead firm called Maize & Burns in 1852 where he was encouraged by the owner Josiah Maize to work solely on improving elevators. Maize’s intention was to develop a new hoisting device to carry heavy equipment to the upper floors of his factory, that too quickly and efficiently. Now, the problem with primitive elevators was that, there was nothing to protect them from falling, in case the supporting cables broke. Otis worked on this and within a year, built an alternative safety device called “Improvement in Hoisting Apparatus Elevator Brake” or simply elevator brake! In 1854, he even exhibited his new invention to the public during the Crystal Palace Exposition in New York. He even showed live how, despite cutting the elevator hoisting cables, it didn’t abruptly fall down and crash, but simply came to a halt, thanks to the elevator brakes he had invented. Observing how well it was received, Otis immediately filed for a patent and got it. By 1857, he had even managed to set up his own Otis elevator Company and was manufacturing passenger elevators.
In 1861, Otis and co. installed a steam-powered passenger elevator equipped with his elevator brakes in a five-storey departmental store in Manhattan, New York. It was the world’s first ever public elevator! As you can imagine, Otis may not have created the first elevator, but his safety brakes did make way for elevators as we know today. In fact, his inventory marvel made skyscrapers a possible reality!
Meet the present-day electric elevators
With the advent of electricity towards the late 19th century, elevators too were developed that could be run by electricity. Thus came the first one in 1880 invented by German innovator Werner von Siemens. However, it was only in 1887, that American inventor Alexander Miles upgraded it and then filed for the patent of world’s first electric elevator. His elevator had it all – from a proper elevator shaft, to a collapsible gate, to a strong metal cable alongside elevator brakes not to forget the electric-powered motor. The cable moved like a pulley wheel with grooves and helped move the elevator fast and securely.