Otis Elevator Company installation of electric lifts for the London Underground photographs
Creation: 1905-1907Abstract
The Otis Elevator Company manufactures, installs and maintains elevators, escalators and moving walkways. In 1904, the Underground Electric Railways Company of London, a precursor of today’s London Underground, purchased 170 electric elevators from the company, to be installed between 1905 and 1907. The album contains images of elevators and elevator equipment being installed at subway stations in London. The photographs are labeled by station and date. Most of the images show the equipment used to raise, lower and brake the elevator, often already installed at the top of the elevator shaft or in a machine room.
Dates
- Creation: 1905-1907
Creator
- Otis Elevator Company (Organization)
Extent
1 item(s)
General Physical Description
1 album (48 photographic prints) : b&w ; 5.5 x 11 in.
Historical Note
The Otis Elevator Company manufactures, installs and maintains elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Elisha Otis (1811-1861) founded the company in 1853 in New York. In 1862 the company began selling elevators internationally, starting in Canada and expanding to Mexico, and Europe as early as 1873. Sales offices were established in London in 1884. In 1904, the Underground Electric Railways Company of London, a precursor of today’s London Underground, purchased 170 electric elevators from the company, to be installed between 1905 and 1907.
Scope and Content
The album contains images of elevators and elevator equipment being installed at subway stations in London. The photographs are labeled by station and date. Most of the images show the equipment used to raise, lower and brake the elevator, often already installed at the top of the elevator shaft or in a machine room. Other images feature workers installing or inspecting this equipment. Otis Elevator Company workers are also shown at a company store in London and at a "Bean feast" at Hampton Court. Finally, a few photographs feature the completed elevator entrances' in the stations, complete with uniformed elevator operators and signs instructing patrons to "Wait here for Lifts."
Location
GL Box 3.
Existence and Location of Copies
View this collection online in Hagley's Digital Archives.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Subjects
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Otis Elevator Company installation of electric lifts for the London Underground photographs
- Date:
- 2014
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository
