facts about the invention
Escalator by Nathan Ames in
AT A GLANCE:
The first patent # 25,076 relating to an
escalator-like machine was granted in March 9, 1859 to Nathan Ames of
Saugus, Massachusetts for an invention that he called Revolving Stairs.
His design for the escalator was far ahead of its time, yet was never
built. It appears that Mr. Ames died in 1860. The earliest working type
of escalator, patented in 1892 by Jesse W. Reno, was introduced as a new
novelty ride at the Old Iron Pier at Coney Island NY, NY in 1896.
WHERE TO FIND
HOW IT WORKS
DID YOU KNOW?
||escalator in 1859
||noun / es∑ca∑la∑tor / originally a
||A power-driven set of stairs arranged
like an endless belt that ascend or descend continuously.
moving staircase used
as transportation between floors or levels in subways, buildings,
and other mass pedestrian areas.
issued March 9, 1859 for Revolving Stairs
invent. First to patent.
1859 Nathan Ames of Saugus,
Massachusetts patents Revolving Stairs 25,076 issued March 9, 1859
1891 Jesse Reno invents escalator-type elevator apparatus. Files January
2, for patent
1891 George A. Wheeler invents escalator-type apparatus. Files March 5,
1892 Reno of New York, New York patents Endless Conveyer or
Elevator 470,918 issued March 15,
1892 George A. Wheeler of New York, New York patents Elevator 479,864
issued August 2,
1896 Reno installed his version of an escalator at the Old Iron Pier at Coney Island
in New York City
1896 Charles D. Seeberger invents escalator-type elevator apparatus.
Files May 19, for patent
1897 George A. Wheeler invents escalator-type elevator improvements.
Files April 18, for patent
1899 Charles D. Seeberger of Chicago, Illinois patents Elevator 617,778
issued January 17,
1899 George A. Wheeler of New York, New York patents Elevator 617,788
issued January 17.
1899 Seeberger buys Wheeler patent and goes to work for Otis Elevator
1900 Seeberger registered "Escalator" as a trademark for a moving
1900 Otis's first step-type escalator made for public use, is installed
at the Paris Exhibition
1902 Jesse Reno founded the Reno Electric Stairways and Conveyors
1910 Otis Elevator Company buys Seeberger patent and "Escalator"
1911 Otis Elevator Company buys Reno patent
1921 Otis engineers, led by David Lindquist, add improvements resulting
in today's escalator.
escalator, moving stairway, inclined elevator, nathan ames, jesse reno,
george wheeler, charles seeberger, david lindquist, otis elevator
company, invention, history,
inventor of, history of, who invented, invention of, fascinating
Invention of the Elevator from The Great Idea Finder
from The Great Idea Finder
ON THE BOOKSHELF:
1000 Inventions & Discoveries
by Roger Bridgman / Hardcover: 256 pages / Dorling Kindersley
Fascinating stories and vivid photographs and illustrations tell the
tales of the developments in technology and natural science that have
shaped our world. Profiles of the famous (and not-so-famous) men and
women who have had "Eureka!" moments, a running timeline which puts the
inventions and discoveries in historical context.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity : An Engineer Looks at Technology and Culture
by John H. Lienhard / Paperback: 272 pages / Oxford University Press, USA
(December 4, 2003)
Based on episodes from Lienhard's widely
broadcast public radio series, this intriguing set of essays begins with a
simple premise: more than we often care to admit, our lives are shaped by
our machines. Fleshing out this proposition, Lienhard ransacks 2,000 years
of scientific and technological history, cobbling together a quirky
biography of the strange being he calls homo technologicus.
Otis Giving Rise to the Modern City
by Jason Goodwin / Hardcover: 320 pages / Ivan R Dee, Inc.; (September 2001)
The skyscraper, that most durable symbol of modernity, would not have been possible
without the elevator, and the elevator as we have come to know it is largely the product
of the company that Elisha Otis founded in the 1850s.
ON THE WEB:
Charles D. Seeberger sold his patents and the trademark Escalator, to Otis
Elevator Company. The first moving stairway was set up in 1898 at Otisí
Yonkers Works in New York. When the unit was moved to France to be exhibited
at the Paris Exhibition of 1900, it was labeled
Nathan Ames was a patent solicitor, and considered an expert in such matters, and
invented several useful machines. He was also a writer of both prose and
poetry, writing among other books "Pirate's Glen," "Dungeon Rock" and
"Childe Harold." He died in 1860. Article from The Bay State
Monthly - Volume 2, Issue 3, December, 1884. From Project Gutenberg.
The Otis Elevator Company later combined the best aspects of both the Reno
and Seeberger inventions and in 1921 produced an
escalator of the type used today. These improvements in design brought the
escalator into extensive use in department stores and banks and in
metropolitan railroad and subway stations.Article by Charles A. Buckman,
CSS, CEI., vertical transportation consultant.
Reno's Amusement Park Ride
The earliest type of escalator, patented in 1892 by Jesse W. Reno, was introduced
as a new novelty ride at Coney Island moving passengers on a conveyor belt
(no steps) at an angle of 25 degrees. COOKIES and POP-UP ADS.
It is believed Charles Seeberger combined the Latin word "scala" for steps with part
of the word elevator (the prefix "e" with the suffix "tor") to form
escalator. Other reports, however, suggest he derived his term from the
French word "escalade," a "climb over a wall."
The History of the Escalator
According to Otis, "In the 1920s, Otis engineers, led by David Lindquist,
combined and improved the Jesse Reno and Charles Seeberger escalator
designs, and created the cleated, level steps of the modern escalator in use
today. Article by Mary Bellis. COOKIES and POP-UP ADS.
On this page I will describe in an informal manner, which activities are
actual and which results and problems occurred in my search for the
Seeberger family history and the escalator..
First Escalator is Coney Island Ride
The amusement park ride, which transported riders on a conveyor belt built
at a 25-degree angle, was considered a novelty by the 75,000 people who rode
it during its two-week Coney Island exhibition.
Article It Happened In New York by Cynthia Blair for Newsday
The old Reno escalator was a solid piece of equipment, and many are still in
use. You can spot them in the Boston and London subway systems. They have a
characteristic structure of wooden slats that make up their treads and
risers. Article by John H. Lienhard. Available in text or audio.
The Otis Elevator Company of New York manufactured it, and it was exhibited
in 1900 at the Paris Exposition, where the name "escalator" was adopted.
Article by David Wallechinsky & Irving Wallace
Escalators - The worst
Stairs can be dated back millennia. We can see evidence of their early use
in South American pyramids, Macchu Picchu and the city of Babylon. They are
a cheap and effective way of traversing heights. Article by Ron Simpson.
WORDS OF WISDOM:
"Life is an escalator: You can move forward
or backward; you can not remain still." - Patricia Russell-McCloud
HOW IT WORKS:
The Mechanics of How an Escalator Works
In the year 2000, Otis'
celebrated its centennial anniversary in the escalator business, Otis continues to look to
the future and strives to improve Otis escalators.
DID YOU KNOW?:
It is believed Charles Seeberger combined the
Latin word "scala" for steps with part of the word elevator (the prefix
"e" with the suffix "tor") to form escalator.
The earliest working type of escalator, patented
in 1892 by Jesse W. Reno, was introduced
as a new novelty ride at Coney Island moving passengers on a conveyor belt
(no steps) at an angle of 25 degrees.
trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
Sources in BOLD Type.
page revised September, 2005.
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