I want to celebrate Elisha Otis who on this day, in 1853, installed the first elevator in New York City at the Coopers Union Building. Without his invention, I would still be on crutches or in a wheelchair on the first floor of every building since 2017.
I used elevators to get me up to the second or third floor, then make my way down the stair slowly and deliberately. That was my exercise routine after my spine surgery and later my heart operation. Thank you, Mr. Otis.
Elisha Graves Otis did not invent the elevator. These already existed. His genius was to invent the safety elevator which would not fall if the hoisting cable broke.
This enabled the safe and legal carrying of passengers, and revolutionised buildings. No longer were the upper floors the cheaper ones. They became the desirable floors and led to high rise buildings.
To this day, the company he founded pays my pension.
Thankyou, Mr Otis from me also!!
Thank you for filling in that gaping hole in my knowledge of elevators. Can I be certain that all the elevators I use are of the new, improved kind.
@Spinliesel These days, by law, any elevator licensed to carry passengers has to have "anti-fall" devices.
Here is the first patented device to achieve this "anti-fall", as designed by Otis.
[time.com]
@Petter Very cool design! Thanks.