When Was the Elevator Invented?
Elevators are boxes that allow people or products to get from one floor to another quickly and easily. Elevators have been around for thousands of years and have been adapted with modern technology. While the first inventor of the elevator is unknown, there are several individuals that have helped improve the performance of elevators over the centuries.
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Early Elevators
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Early elevators date back to 300 BC. Early elevators used humans, animals or water power to move the elevator car. Archimedes makes a reference to an "elevator" in 236 BC, the first known reference to elevators.
Plunger Elevators
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Plunger elevators were commonly used in the 19th century. Plunger elevators were elevator cars that were placed on top of a plunger-type pedestal. The pedestal was then raised and lowered using liquid (usually water).
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Safety Elevators
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Elevators using electrical power came into being in the 1850s. In 1852, Elisha Otis demonstrated the first power safety elevator. Otis' elevator had a safety feature that stopped the elevator from falling if any of the elevator's hardware broke.
Electric Elevators
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In 1880, Werner von Siemens was the first to place an electric motor on an elevator. Von Siemens' elevator used revolving gears on the side of the elevator to raise and lower the car. In 1887 in Baltimore, Maryland, the first electric motor using ropes to hoist the car was used.
Elevator Add-Ons
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In 1861, Otis created hoisting method that used gears and ropes. In 1874, J.W. Meaker created the technology to allow elevator doors to slide open and closed.
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