Dr. Lee Gray
Dr. Lee Gray, professor of Architectural History and senior associate dean of the College of Arts + Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has written more than 200 monthly articles on the history of vertical transportation (VT) for ELEVATOR WORLD since 2003. He is also the author of From Ascending Rooms to Express Elevators: A History of the Passenger Elevator in the 19th Century. He also serves as curator of theelevatormuseum.org, created by Elevator World, Inc.
The Bostwick Elevator Gate
The Unlikely Story of How a Patent Acquisition became Synonymous with sliding, collapsible metal elevator gates One of the most iconic components of many late 19th- and early 20th-century elevators...
“New York, New York, a Eleva’ Town”
Looking at NYC’s vertical-transportation heritage through the unique Park Row Building The 1944 Broadway musical On the Town featured the song “New York, New York” (music by Leonard Bernstein with...
Early 20th-Century European Elevator Regulations, Part Two
The series further examines the continent’s framework for its first codes. Part One of this series (ELEVATOR WORLD, January 2018) introduced “Apparecchi di Sollevamento e di Transporto: Gli Elevatori Industriali...
Early 20th-Century European Elevator Regulations, Part One
Self regulation got the gears of standardization turning. The June 19, 1910, issue of L’industria Rivista Tecnica ed Economica Illustrata featured the first in a 24-part series of illustrated articles...
The Emergency Elevator Repair Service
One of the first attempts to address the use of elevators during a non-fire emergency The subject of elevator use in emergency situations has been discussed — and debated —...
The Water-Balance Elevator, Part Two
Intriguing hydraulic system makes its way west to Chicago and beyond. One of the most intriguing hydraulic elevator systems developed in the 19th century was the water-balance elevator. Part One...
The Water-Balance Elevator, Part One
Nineteenth-century design with unique history was employed in a wide range of buildings. One of the most intriguing hydraulic elevator systems developed in the 19th century was the water-balance elevator....
“On Hydraulic Lifts” (1864)
An examination of possibly the first publication of a complete passenger elevator system The January and February 2017 issues of ELEVATOR WORLD included a two-part article titled “An Innovative Elevator...
A Biography of Reginald Pelham Bolton, Conclusion
The consulting engineer was a prolific author and noted amateur historian. In addition to his work as a consulting engineer (ELEVATOR WORLD, April and May 2017), Reginald Bolton pursued two...
A Biography of Reginald Pelham Bolton, Part 2
The subject’s career as a consulting engineer is the topic of this segment. When Reginald Pelham Bolton arrived in New York City (NYC) in 1894 to launch his engineering consulting...
