From Victorian showpieces to today’s glass towers, lifts and escalators have shaped modern buildings. If you have ever wondered “when were lifts invented?” or “who invented the lift?”, this timeline gives you a clear answer, plus the moment when escalators were invented and why the story still matters for building owners and facilities teams.
When were lifts invented?
Simple hoists existed for centuries, but the modern passenger lift began in the 1850s with one breakthrough – a reliable safety brake. In 1854, Elisha Otis demonstrated a platform that locked if the rope failed, which transformed public confidence. Three years later, in 1857, the first commercial passenger lift entered service at the E. V. Haughwout building in New York. From that point, taller buildings became practical, and cities around the world, including across the UK, adopted passenger lifts as standard.
Who invented the lift?
No single person invented every part of the lift. Many engineers contributed over time. That said, Elisha Otis is credited with the safety elevator, the decisive step that made passenger lifts viable. Earlier hoists were fine for goods. Otis’s mechanism made carrying people safe enough for everyday use. His company’s designs, and those of competitors, set the template for traction and hydraulic systems still seen in surveys and condition reports today.
When were escalators invented?
Escalators arrived a little later. In 1896, Jesse W. Reno built a working “inclined elevator” that carried riders up a moving belt. Soon after, Charles Seeberger partnered with Otis to develop the flat step escalator we recognise today, and their model won top honours at the 1900 Paris Exposition. In the UK, Harrods installed a moving staircase in 1898, introducing London shoppers to the new technology. By the early 20th century, escalators were a common sight in department stores and transport hubs.
What is a Paternoster Lift & When Was it Invented?
A paternoster is a continuous loop of small open cabins that travel slowly up one shaft and down the other on chains and sprockets, allowing passengers to step on and off as the cabins pass each floor. It is not related to the Otis safety brake, which was designed for single rope-hauled cars that clamp to guide rails if the rope fails. Paternosters appeared in the late 19th century, with early patents from the 1860s and installations becoming more common in the 1880s. They aimed to cut waiting times and move many people quickly, but never became mainstream because boarding while moving is risky, accessibility is poor, rules tightened, liability is higher, and they cannot carry goods.
What is a Dumbwaiter Lift & When Was It Invented?
A dumbwaiter is a small goods-only lift for moving meals, files and parcels between floors in places like restaurants, hotels, hospitals, offices and homes. Hand-powered service hoists are older, but the modern mechanical dumbwaiter took shape in the 1880s with new safety brakes and patented designs that made them practical and reliable. Today’s units are compact electric lifts with interlocked doors and call stations. They remain popular because they are simpler and cheaper than passenger lifts, but they must never carry people and have strict load limits and safety rules.
Timeline of Lift & Escalator History
- 1854: Otis safety-brake demo shows a lift can stop if its rope fails.
- 1857: First commercial passenger lift enters service in New York (E.V. Haughwout).
- 1866: Early paternoster concept patented by Peter Ellis.
- 1868: Early paternoster installed at Oriel Chambers, Liverpool.
- 1880: First electric elevator demonstrated by Werner von Siemens in Mannheim.
- 1883: George W. Cannon patents a dumbwaiter safety brake.
- 1887: Cannon patents a mechanical dumbwaiter.
- 1896: Jesse W. Reno debuts a working “inclined elevator” ride (first working escalator).
- 1898: Harrods unveils a moving staircase in London.
- 1899: First step-type commercial escalator produced by Seeberger–Otis.
- 1900: Seeberger–Otis flat-step escalator showcased in Paris; modern design takes shape.
- 1903: Gearless traction elevator introduced by Otis, enabling true skyscrapers.
- 1911: First London Underground escalators installed at Earl’s Court.
- 1974: West Germany bans new paternosters over safety and accessibility concerns.
Why this matters for building owners
These milestones underpin today’s compliance and lifecycle decisions. The safety ideas behind Otis’s brakes feed into modern standards. Early escalator designs evolved into the reliable systems that move large numbers of people every day. Knowing the history helps explain why certain modernisation paths, traffic analysis results, or control upgrades make sense, which is useful context for stakeholder briefings and budget planning.
Talk to ILECS
Need independent help with lifts or escalators, such as condition surveys, maintenance audits, modernisation strategies, specifications, or new build design? Explore ILECS services and speak to a consultant about your building.