History
Elisha Otis’ “Improved Elevator”
Examining the “facts” from the New York Crystal Palace Exhibition The story of Elisha Otis’ exhibition of his “improved elevator” at the New York Crystal Palace in 1854 is found...
Historical Buildings, Modern VT
In this Project Spotlight, DOPPLER designs modern VT for historical buildings, upgrading the ride experience while respecting the local heritage. by Konstantina Parisi Elevators and escalators are part of a...
Revisiting History
In this Readers' Platform, your author reflects on a lift modernization undertaken 30 years ago. by Colin Craney In a paper for ELEVATOR WORLD UK a few years ago, I...
The Montmorency Escalator in Le Havre
In this History article, your author describes an early 20th century French transportation system. In the early 1920s, the city of Le Havre, France, began the search for an urban...
A Story of Destruction and Rebirth
Iconic Llao Llao Hotel in Argentine Patagonia and its VT system continue to enchant. photos courtesy of Ascensores Patagonia, Gustavo Marcovich and Andrea Pintos Situated between two lakes, in the...
Elevator Brakes 1895-1927
In this History article, your author provides a brief presentation of early brake systems. The first edition of Frederick A. Annett’s well-known book on electric elevators appeared in 1927. Annett...
Elevators As Communications Systems
In this History article, your author examines a lesser-known application of VT technology. The editorial focus of this month’s issue is Communications Systems. While this subject has a rich history...
The Car That Otis Built
The company’s design background goes beyond lifts. If you had been a horse back in 1906, you probably would have been mad at the Otis Elevator Co. Not because you...
The A17.1 Centennial
A complex story meaningfully told Centennial celebrations offer unique opportunities to pause, look backward (and forward) and reflect on the meaning and importance of past events. The new Elevator World,...
Elevator Entrapments in the United States: 1880-1930
Reports of passengers being caught had become fairly common in VT’s early days. In 1880, a humorous short story titled “The Gay Widow” appeared in numerous American newspapers. The story...
