The Escalator.
The earliest way to get upward from the ground was that adopted by climbing animals in clambering up tree trunks, and by man himself in “shinning” up trees by aid of his arms and legs. This was followed by the plank leading from a lower to a higher level, by the ladder, and finally by the stairway. In our days the stairway has been put on a set of revolving wheels and moves upward itself, carrying its passengers with no need on their part to use their feet. This simple but effective device is known as the escalator.
It is a very useful contrivance for tired shoppers needing to make their way from floor to floor in the great department stores, for travelers on subway or elevated railways, for large mills, theaters, or other places where easy getting up and down stairs is necessary. The escalator is a simple device. No intricate machinery is needed. It is so arranged as to be always going, traveling upwards or downwards, and returning out of sight below. It has been called “an elevator with the doors always open.” It is capable of carrying all the passengers who can crowd upon it, stepping on or off at the bottom or top, it being estimated that more than 10,000 people an hour can be thus moved.
Battery of Elevators in a Department Store
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| A Complete Installationof a 2 : 1 Electric TractionPassenger Elevator, ShowingMachine and Controller atTop of Hatchway | |
| This elevator is used wherethe slower speeds are requiredas in department stores. | Electric Dumbwaiter Installationwith Machine in BasementShowing Call Buttons |
Escalator or Moving Stairway at Sixth Avenue and Thirty-third Street Station of Elevated Railway, New York City
A Duplex Escalator of the Cleat Type in a Department Store
This type of escalator makes use of hard wood cleats in place of steps.
An Escalator or Moving Stairway for the Use of Employees in a Large Worsted Mill
A Cleat Type Escalator, Showing the Hardwood Cleats Used in Place of Steps