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I.U.E.C. Local 23 Portland Oregon |
International Union of Elevator Constructors Welcome to the website for the I.U.E.C. Local #23! |
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History of Elevators Elevators began as simple rope or chain hoists. An elevator is a hoist contained within an elevator well. An elevator consists of a cab (also "cage" or "car") or platform, the ropes or cables required to raise and lower it using pulleys and machinery to move the rope. Later refinements included steam power and hydraulic power. In 1853, Elisha Otis introduced the safety elevator, which prevented the fall of the cab if the cable broke, and on March 23, 1857 his first elevator was installed at 488 Broadway in New York City. The first elevator shaft preceded the first elevator by four years. Construction for Peter Cooper's Cooper Union building in New York began in 1853. An elevator shaft was included in the design for Cooper Union, because Cooper was utterly confident a safe passenger elevator would soon be invented: the shaft however was circular because Cooper felt it was the most efficient design. Later Otis designed a special elevator for the school. Today the Otis Elevator Company, now a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, is the world's largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems. The first electric elevator was built by Werner von Siemens in 1880. The safety and speed of electric elevators were significantly enhanced by Frank Sprague. |
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Local #23, Portland Oregon Contact Information
Copyright © 2005 International Union of Elevator Constructors Local #23
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