Archive for the ‘Elevators - Pre 1900's’ Category
Haughwout Building – Otis Elevator or A.B. See?
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
author Jan L. Dumno
-Message to elevatorpreservation-
Currently I’m behind another story.
You probably heard that Otis claims to have installed the first passenger-elevator ever to the Eder V. Haughwout-Building in 488-492 Broadway, Soho, NYC. This happened in 1857 – later in 1892, Alonzo B. See installed another elevator to the same building – guess what: I’ve heard that this one is still in working order while the Otis has been removed in the 19th century already. (Here, Wikipedia is wrong.)
Also, I’ve heard that it is worth a visit. I can’t confirm but this got my attention. Could you try to use your tools to make a call for information? Maybe we may even find somebody who lives or works close – it should be possible to try to get access and ideally make some photographs. The building doesn’t look like a highly secured one; there is a Staples-market in the first floor.
I think this elevator is of interest for elevator-historians just because it survived while Otis’ got lost – you must know that See and Otis had some nice fights. See originally was employed with Otis but later opened his own business.
I have included a link to wikipedia – this is just for the picture of the building. Please ignore what somebody wrote about the elevator – this is, as said before, wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._V._Haughwout_Building
May 25th, 2010:
It looks like this story can be confirmed by the seller of the historic elevator-cabin (see post below): after re-visiting the old elevator, he confirmed that A. B. See is the manufacturer. The difference from my expectation is that what I see on the photographs doesn’t seem to be an elevator in “working order” – but at least, it may have been in operation until they shut it down maybe just a few years ago.
The elevator currently being removed from the Haughwout thereby is not necessarily a piece of American history like the 1857 Otis would have been. However, it is somewhat meaningfull to the story of A. B. See and the competition he had with the Otis Elevator Company.
Tags: A.B. See Elevator, First Commercial Elevator, haughwout building elevator, Otis Elevator
Posted in Elevators - Pre 1900's | 3 Comments
Original Haughwout Building Elevator For Sale – 1857
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Special thanks to Jan for sending this link over. It literally had my mouth hanging down to the floor for a couple of reasons. The first has to do with how much this elevator cab is being sold for, 50K! The second reason for my suprise is the fact that this very may well be the FIRST commerical elevator ever installed in the United States. If this elevator could talk, the stories it might tell.
I give the seller a lot of credit for putting such a high price tag on it. After all it’s more than just wood cab walls, its a piece of American History.
The actual listing is below.
Antique Otis Elevator Cab. Machined East Lake Style. First commercial elevator in NYC. Created as a cabinet in approximately 1825, the cab has pretty wood paneling and mirrors within and detail without. 48 x 67 inches. The cab, a historically and architecturally significant piece of American History, will be gently removed from The Haughwout Building in NYC. The elevator cab was constructed as a piece of custom millwork unlike contemporary cabs that are constructed in individual panels.
I just wish there were more photos to look at.
Tags: Haughwout Elevator
Posted in Elevators - Pre 1900's | 4 Comments
Butler Indicator or Elevator Indicator?
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
I’ve seen these before, mostly noted as elevator indicators but they seem to complicated to have worked with the types of elevator controllers that were built back around the 1900’s. This one noted to be either a butlers station or elevator indicator posts a date of 1882 which is a long time ago.
Have some information on how these might have worked? Comment below!
Tags: arrow indicator, butler station
Posted in Elevators - 1900-1930, Elevators - Pre 1900's | 3 Comments
Mitchell Elevator For Sale
Thursday, January 14th, 2010
See another one out there selling an old elevator. The location of this unit is in Nevada.
I have an elevator from the late 1800’s in my bldg. I have the patents for it too. It is a Mitchell which of course is no longer in business since early 1900’s. It’s in good shape and I have pictures of it are attached. Please contact elevatorpreservation@gmail.com and we will put you in contact with the seller.
Posted in Elevators - Pre 1900's | 4 Comments
Cool Otis Elevator Patent Print For Sale
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
I’ve seen these on Ebay before but this one is the best looking one I’ve ever seen and for the price you can’t beat it. If you love elevators and their history you’ll love this print. If for some reason it’s not on Ebay any more contact the seller through this link.
http://myworld.ebay.com/the-patent-guy/
Quality Reproduction of the
Original US PATENT for the ELEVATOR BRAKE!!!
Invented and Patented by Elisiah OTIS in 1874. This invention of the Elevator Brake made elevators safe and practical for use in high-rise buildings. This is his entire patent reproduced on 8.5″ by 11″ Antiqued Parchment Paper, and includes the Drawing Sheet and 2 Description sheets that describe the invention in full detail.
Own an amazing piece of HISTORY!!! Ready to FRAME!!!
Buy it Now!!!
This is a low resolution scan of the actual document for fast loading. The actual documents are of museum sharpness and quality.
Tags: otis elevator reproduction patent, otis patent print for sale
Posted in Elevators - Pre 1900's | 1 Comment
1890’s Elevator Sign
Friday, December 18th, 2009
This has to be one of the coolest items I’ve seen on ebay for quite some time. The last I had checked the bid was up to $255 and the reserve price had yet to be met. The details of the item are noted below. And yes, the first line item of it being rare is correct.
- Here is a beautiful CA 1890′S ELEVATOR DIRECTORY 43 X 26 X 1.5 INCH SIGN and in our opinion very rare.
- We have owned it for over 20 years
- This sign may have been in a lobby of a business or possibly head office of a corporation
- It is made out of solid wood and has nice gold lettering for the FIRST FLOOR, DIRECTORY ETC.
- Condition is overall great,see pictures for details, a couple of the floor letters are faded
- The LECKIE SIGN IS METAL AND WOULD SLIDE OUT TO BE REPLACED WITH OTHER BUSINESS NAMES(that was the only one it came with)
While not all the photographs are posted here the sign looked to be about 1″ thick. Looking at it now I think that reproducing a replica would be something that wouldn’t be too hard to do. I might end up giving this a try in my spare time, kind of like the New Yankee Workshop.
Tags: 1890's Elevator Sign
Posted in Elevators - Pre 1900's | 2 Comments
The History of the American Elevator Industry: 1850-2001
Friday, June 5th, 2009
This wonderful book written by Patrick A. Carrajat on the history of the American Elevator Industry from 1850 – 2001 is now free to everyone to read. Thanks Patrick for writing such a great history book. Cool photographs combined with a wonderful time line helps this book reach its goal in preserving the history of the American Elevator Industry.
We have two versions of this book online, one that is a full resolution version which is very large in size and the other is a much smaller web quality resolution.
If you’d like to send Patrick a note thanking him for his hard work please drop him an e-mail.
LIR GROUP, INC. – 4-74 48th avenue – Penthouse 3H – L.I.C., NY 11109 – 917.748.2328 – wizard@elevatorlaw.comDownload This Great Book Below – Two Resolution Sizes To Choose From
The History of the American Elevator Industry 1850-2001 – Full Resolution 86.7mb .PDF File
The History of the American Elevator Industry 1850-2001 -Web Quality Resolution 4.7mb .PDF File
Tags: elevator Americana, elevator history, elevator industry history
Posted in Articles, Elevators - 1991-2010, Elevators - Pre 1900's | 3 Comments
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