When were elevators invented?

Answer 1

In the 3rd century BC
Elevators were used as far back as the 3rd century BC using human or animal power.

In the 1800's steam and water power elevators were in wide use, but were hazardous.

In 1853 Elisha Otis invented the safety break.

The first electric elevator was built in 1880 by a German, Werner von Siemens.

Note that these two names (Otis and Siemens) are still associated with elevators.
The first reference about the elevator is located in the works of the Roman architect Vitruvius, who reported that Archimedes built his first elevator, probably, in 236 B.C. In some literary sources of later historical period elevators were mentioned as cabs, on the hemp rope and powered by hand or by animal's force. It is supposed that elevators of this type were installed in the Sinai monastery of Egypt. In the 17th century the prototypes of elevators were located in the palace buildings of England and France. In 1793 Ivan Kulibin created the elevator with the screw lifting mechanism for the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg. In 1816 the elevator was established in the main building of sub Moscow village called Arkhangelskoye. In 1823, an "ascending room" made its debut in London. [2] Henry Waterman, of New York, invented the elevator in 1850. He intended it to transport barrels of flour. In 1853, Elisha Otis introduced the safety elevator, which prevented the fall of the cab if the cable broke. The design of the Otis safety elevator is somewhat similar to one type still used today. A governor device engages knurled roller(s), locking the elevator to its guides should the elevator descend at excessive speed. On March 23, 1857 the first Otis 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 confident that a safe passenger elevator would soon be invented. The shaft 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 transport 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. The development of elevators was led by the need for movement of raw materials including coal and lumber from hillsides. The technology developed by these industries and the introduction of steel beam construction worked together to provide the passenger and freight elevators in use today. In 1874, J.W. Meaker patented a method which permitted elevator doors to open and close safely. U.S. Patent 147,853 From Wikipedia