Elevators are arguably one of the finest innovations the world has ever seen, making it easier than ever for humans to reach new heights effortlessly. They're integral tools that facilitate the vertical transport of people and goods within commercial, industrial and residential applications. The modern elevator, however, has really only been around for close to one hundred years. It has gone through many iterations throughout the centuries to become the efficient, speedy and safe machine millions of people use every day. 

From ropes and open platforms to electricity and button controls, commercial and residential elevators have undergone extreme makeovers and developments. Let's examine the evolution of home elevators over time to better understand just how far they've come. 

Early Beginnings of Elevator Technology

Even with the oldest civilizations, there was a need to hoist materials, objects and people to higher elevations. Constructions resembling our modern elevators were subsequently used to satisfy these applications, often made of wood, ropes and other various materials. Here's how some of the first home elevators took shape throughout history.

Ancient Origins

While the modern elevator has been a staple of life since the 1800s, the concept of moving objects and people up and down has been around for thousands of years. Research has shown that one of the first elevator inventions was created by the Greek mathematician Archimedes in 236 B.C. This ancient creation came to life with ropes attached to a capstan and operated through human labor. 

Similar tools, with the addition of winches and counterweights, were used by the Romans to raise and lower gladiators and animals during events in the Colosseum. Numerous lifts were spread throughout the space, and each could lift up to 600 pounds at once.

Industrial Revolution 

The Industrial Revolution was an expansive moment in history for countless areas of life, especially for elevators. King Louis XV was among the first to use a passenger-specific elevator, coining the name "The Flying Chair." It was labor-operated, using ropes and platforms to carry one of his mistresses to her quarters. Hydraulics began to replace traditional components throughout the 1800s, relying on a piston within a cylinder filled with water or oil. The earliest hydraulic elevators ushered in steam power, fulfilling crucial applications used in warehouses, mines and factories. 

Inventors and manufacturers eventually got back to work and created an innovative cable system that is much closer to the ones we see in homes and commercial properties around the world today. It was equipped with advanced safety mechanisms that stopped the elevator from free-falling in case the cables broke. 

The Invention of the Modern Home Elevator

The evolution of the elevator has been a long time in the making, undergoing continuous improvements by countless inventors and experts over the years. While these machines have always proved to be effective in transporting people and goods, they lack the safety aspects required for practical use in residential environments. 

Elisha Graves Otis and the Safety Brake

One of the biggest breakthroughs in the elevator's evolution was the cable system, which is much like the elevator models we see in homes and commercial properties around the world today. Early cable elevator models would free-fall if their cable were to ever snap. A man named Elisha Graves Otis realized this and produced a system using a ratchet device that would open and catch the elevator car, stopping its descent instantaneously. He presented his invention at the 1854 New York World's Fair when he raised an elevator car, cut the cable with an ax and stated that it was "all safe," as his device succeeded. 

By 1887, the Otis Elevator Company had installed the very first commercial passenger elevator in a five-story department store in New York, putting once unreachable heights safely within grasp. With the coincidentally simultaneous creation of an enclosed platform, this advancement in safety propelled elevators into the mainstream as the public began to hop on board. Otis' inventions made our modern-day skyscrapers possible, fueling industries and societies with the vertical capabilities required to succeed.

First Residential Elevators

The first home elevator invention was installed in 1929. These first models sold around this time weren't flying off the shelves to every family in any old neighborhood. They were expensive and marketed as luxury items, commonly sold to hotels, manors and other high-end locations. Early elevators were known as "ascending rooms" and filled with upholstered seats, mirrors and sometimes even chandeliers. They traveled slowly, which enabled riders to enjoy the comforts of not needing to take the stairs. 

When the novelty of the elevator finally wore off, it quickly became a staple of everyday life. One of the biggest reasons for the elevator's swift rise to fame in residential and commercial applications was its increase in speed. Quicker elevators were much more practical and utilitarian for riders to use as they could travel between floors much faster and more safely than walking up stairs. 

Technological Advancements in Home Elevators

While steam-powered elevators were the go-to for many years, the advent of electricity ushered in a new era of elevator use. Werner Von Siemens invented the first-ever elevator powered by electricity in 1880. Seven years later, a man named Alexander Miles took the use of electricity a step further by designing an elevator model with automatically opening and closing doors. With electricity at the heart of these inventions, users enjoyed a more efficient and safer ride to their desired floor. 

In the 1900s, gearless traction elevators, built with multi-speed motors, were invented. These motors brought more control over the elevator with push-button controls. Again, these innovations improved the practicality of elevators and created a more accessible, protected and effective machine. 

Impact on Architecture and Urban Development

Our world has a fixed amount of space fit for construction. As time has progressed, this space has continued to dwindle. The elevator is one of the most important innovations of the modern world, allowing civilization to continue its expansion through vertical channels. Skyscrapers and high-rise office buildings are commonplace in every city, with many buildings reaching over 100 floors. These impressive architectural feats wouldn't be possible without elevators, propelling new industries and supporting growing populations. 

Elevators allow city planners to create intricate and comfortable public spaces within crowded cities that are home to millions of people. With continuous technological innovations, these machines have become increasingly common in residential settings. They're most often used by individuals with disabilities striving to increase the accessibility of their home and help residents reap certain advantages, such as: 

• Improved safety to age in place. 
• Boosted property value. 
• Added convenience and style. 

Take Advantage of a High-Performance Residential Elevator

Elevators have been around for thousands of years and have played a crucial role in the progress of civilization. Modern elevators have become an essential component of homes over time, allowing disabled, aging and concerned individuals to expand the accessibility of their homes. 

At Residential Elevators, we strive to aid in the expansion of the history of the residential elevator through the continued development of technology, propelling homeowners toward their unrivaled advantages within personal spaces. We've been in business for over 30 years and have the expertise and qualifications to design, install and service high-quality elevators to improve lives across the country. Learn more about how we can help today!