Elevator History

The convenience and ease of taking an elevator up and down in a building is usually taken for granted. However, the elevator today is a marvel of modern technology. Elevators possess the ability to carry thousands of pounds skyward in a matter of seconds, seamlessly defying gravity in the process. The history of how today’s elevators came to be is rooted in the need to transport raw materials through vertical space or steep terrain. During the Industrial Revolution, workers needed a streamlined way to transport commodities such as coal and lumber down from hillsides. This need lead to the development of antiquated steam-powered “elevators” used primarily to transport raw materials in bulk. This technology quickly became common in factories and mines. As time progressed, different ways to power elevators began to take form. Belt-driven applications were developed and counterweights were added to give the elevators a surge of extra power. In 1852, Elisha Otis introduced the most innovative elevator system to date. What made Otis’ application stand out from all others was the fact that he had installed a safety mechanism (now commonly known as a “safety governor”) to stop the elevator from free-falling if the cables broke for any reason. Otis’ 1852 safety innovation is still used today, although it has been refined and perfected throughout time. Today, elevators are the most widely used form of transportation with millions of different applications throughout the world.

The Elevator Consultants is a leading elevator consulting firm helping building owners, property managers, building engineers, facility managers, and REIT’s oversee and optimize their elevator and vertical transportation assets for greater efficiency and increase bottom line. Our service offerings including elevator consulting services like elevator audits, elevator due diligence and even elevator cost reduction and elevator management services. We provide elevator service monitoring software to escalator and elevator insurance claims, not to mention other consulting services, elevator modernizations and new elevator maintenance service contracts. If you are looking for an elevator advisor, elevator expert, or elevator consulting firm, reach out today for a no obligation consultation. For those using British English call us a ‘lift consultant’.