When Operator-less Elevators Faced Public Skepticism
Throughout history, removing humans from the driver’s seat has always been difficult
In 1852, Elisha Otis hoisted himself up in an elevator, then signaled for an assistant to slash through the cables.
The crowd screamed, but Otis only fell for a brief moment before the safety mechanisms kicked in. “All safe!” he reassured the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, all safe!”
The population of Manhattan was exploding, and architects were already making plans to build some of the tallest buildings ever constructed. Now that Otis had made it possible for workers to move quickly and safely between floors, height constraints on buildings all but vanished.
But unfortunately, elevators weren’t as safe as engineers and architects had claimed. Yes, the so-called “safety elevator” virtually eliminated mechanical malfunction, but the lift still required a human operator. Overworked and underpaid, these operators were physically exhausted. And they made costly mistakes.
Sometimes, an operator would set the elevator into motion before everyone was safely inside, leaving passengers crushed or decapitated. But it was more common for an impatient crowd to press against the doors. If an operator opened the gate a moment too…
