The vertical transportation industry would not be what it is today
without Elisha Graves Otis. Born in 1811 the youngest of six children to
Stephen Otis and Phoebe Glynn in Halifax, Vermont. He is acknowledged as the
creator of the industry because of his invention of the elevator ‘brake’
(safety gear) that prevented elevators from falling if the hoisting cable
failed. This invention made high-rise buildings a practical reality and his
sons, Charles and Norton, went on to build a company that became a global
giant.
Early career
His career was very varied. He worked as a wagon driver, carpenter and
owned a gristmill that he converted to a sawmill. He also worked as a builder
of wagons and carriages and as a doll maker for Otis Tingely.
Persistence
Elisha was involved in many business ventures both as an employee
and business owner and was dogged by uncertainty, financial insecurity and ill
health and yet persisted with his inventions and tinkering.
Problems present
opportunities
While working for Otis Tingely in Albany, New York he struggled to
meet the daily quota of making twelve dolls per day. His response was to invent
and patent a mechanical doll turner that enabled him to produce dolls four
times faster - he could produce 50 per day. He was rewarded with a $500 bonus.
Failure was his best
teacher
It was his failure at running his own sawmill due to an inability to
attract enough customers that ultimately prepared him to capitalise on his greatest
opportunity with the elevator brake.
It’s never too late to
make your mark
Elisha was 40 years old when he created the elevator brake while overseeing
the conversion of a sawmill to a bedstead factory. He was clearing up debris by
hand and wondering how to move debris to the upper levels of the factory.
Hoisting platforms existed but were unreliable – is response was to invent the “safety
elevator” with the elevator ‘brake’. He did not think enough of it to patent
the invention initially. The elevator ‘brake’ was used successfully in the
factory until the bedstead business failed.
Delight and amaze your
customers
Many of the businesses that Elisha had been involved with had failed
to attract enough customers. After the bedstead company failed he focused on
his elevator brake invention and founded Union Elevator Works in 1852. There
were no orders for his invention. His theatrical demonstration of the elevator
brake at the 1854 New York World's Fair complete with axe man cutting the
hoisting rope was a masterful act of showmanship. When the rope was cut the
platform fell only a few inches because of the elevator brake / safety gear.
This demonstration led to continuous orders from customers and laid the foundations
for the vertical transportation industry.
After the World’s Fair Elisha changed the name of his company to The
Otis Elevator Company.
Leave a legacy
Charles and Norton built on their father’s achievements after his
death from diphtheria in 1861 and established the company as a global giant. They
installed an elevator in Paris's Eiffel Tower in 1889 and another in the
Washington Monument the following year. In 1913, the Otis Company installed an
elevator inside the 60-storey Woolworth Building in New York City, at that time
the world's tallest building.
What have we learned? With grit and determination driven by need we
can succeed to break down social boundaries and perceptions.
Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment
consultancy. Do you have a current or planned project that includes elevators?
We would be happy to discuss any such requirements and how we may be able to
assist. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20
7739 5093 or send us an email via peterboardman@dunbarboardman.com
to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.
