Elisha Graves Otis / "Otis"

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The first mention of the lift (is more correct, about its prototype) concerns 2600 B.C. It appears, at building of the well-known pyramids clever Egyptians used devices which could lift stone blocks in weight about 90 kg on height of 150 metres. A "live" ancestor modern liftovogo the mechanism archeologists otkapali in Herculaneum. The rests of this unit intending for lifting of culinary dishes from kitchen in a dining room, represent achievement of minds of antiquity. It once again confirms that fact, that ancient people were not sillier than us. Therefore the present not so is far cunning from ancient civilisations, descendants needed to adapt and improve that is thought already up only.

During an epoch of antiquity the question of elevating force has been solved very simply and inhumanely - even the brilliant thinkers reflecting on the person, did not avoid operation of slavish physical strength. Cheap but good. Greek mathematician Archimedes was engaged in mechanism working out, it has made the contribution to business of improvement of the lift. In the Middle Ages lifts were used for transportation of people and cargoes on the top floors of buildings, the mechanism was carried out thanks to muscular force of animals. So, for example, in 1203 in the French abbey the lift set in motion by donkeys has been established.

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In 1743 in a palace of French king Louis XV in Versailles the lift that tridtsatitrehletny the king could, not straining to rise in the apartments of the mistress located a floor above has been established. In 1795 our well-known Kulibin has developed screw «elevating and spusknye armchairs» for the Winter palace. All these lifts used physical strength of servants, is more rare - draught cattle.

In 1800 a certain American, the owner of mine on coal extraction, has made a step forward in liftostroenii, and has released the person and animals from a heavy share. He has thought up the first steam lift. In 1835 this steam lift has become current factory load-lifting business in England, and then was extended in the USA. 1845 - William Thomson has developed the first hydraulic lift.

The inventor was born in 1811 in a family of the farmer in the State of Vermont. Propensity to agriculture Elajsha did not show, but it is live was interested in any technical devices. It liked to spend time in a smithy where he long observed of job and helped to make simple products. In 1829 Otis has left the paternal house. In the following of 20 years he moved time and again from one city in another, changing places of job and undertaking unsuccessful attempts to be engaged in business.

In 1852 Otis with a family has lodged in the city of Yonkers nearby to New York. The factory on which it worked at this time, built a new building. Elajshe have charged to watch building, and also to design and establish in the house the elevating equipment. Solving this problem, Otis also has made the main invention. The way of braking of the falling lift thought up by it was simple, as all ingenious. Cables on which the lift was kept, fastened not directly to its case, and to the spring established from above. Its length was more than distance between two vertical gear directing between which the lift moved. Under weight of the lift the spring caved in, and that free could move upwards and downwards. At breakage of cables the spring was straightened and clung to a teeth directing - the lift with a gnash stopped. Later the braking mechanism of falling lifts repeatedly was improved, but the general principle remained former.

In 1853 Otis has started to sell the elevating devices which he has named safe lifts. Within autumn it has been sold three mechanisms on $300 everyone, and company Otis history has begun with this moment. However, it was necessary to wait for the following order half a year.

In 1854 Otis has thought up an advertising gimmick for revival of demand for firm production. In one of showrooms of New York where there was a high dome, between two support in height of 12 metres the elevating platform moved. At construction top there was an assistant holding in a hand a long sword. On a platform among bochek and boxes there was a inventor in a dress coat and in the cylinder. The steam-engine tightened a platform to the very top, and the assistant at the command of Otis chopped off a rope a sword. The platform directed downwards, but through metre-two automatics with a terrible gnash worked and stopped falling. Otis removed the cylinder and bowed to public. The result has not kept itself waiting. Customers were pulled to Yonkers, and till the end of 1854 Otis has sold seven lifts, having earned almost $3000. In 1856 income of firm has made already $13 500. All devices sold for this period were cargo. In 1857 in department store on the Broadway the firm has established the first-ever passenger lift.

In 1859 firm "Otis" has put the screw lift in hotel «Fifth avenue». From a cellar to an attic the building was penetrated by the huge metal screw, and the cabin went on it as a nut. The screw rotated through a pulley a belt from a steam-engine standing in a cellar. When the screw rotated to the right, the cabin went upwards, to the left - downwards. That the cabin did not rotate together with the screw, along its one corner in lift mine there passed a rail-terminator. But this system has appeared slow, inconvenient and expensive. It has been mounted only such two lifts. In hotel it has been replaced in 1875.

In April, 1861 in the USA Civil war has begun, and after some days Elajsha Otis has unexpectedly died from a diphtheria.

Family business has got Otis's to sons «in very upset status». Neither Charles Otis, nor his younger brother Norton at the moment of death of the father of the direct relation to affairs of firm had no, however not only have taken up all debts and obligations of the father, but also have enclosed own savings in development of the company which have named N. P. Otis.

Civil war has not prevented firm formation, and in 1867 when it has been renamed in Otis Brothers and Company and has let out actions, its cost was estimated in $225 000. In 1868 building of new factory in Yonkers has been finished. Then brothers have patented a number of improvements liftovogo the mechanism and have made the changes which have raised safety to its design.

In 1873 the company has for the first time in history sold is a little exemplary to Europe. However the economic crisis which has burst in the USA the same year, has forced to postpone plans of foreign expansion for a while.

In 1880 company again has decided to advance production on the foreign markets. First representations Otis outside of the USA have opened in London and Paris in 1884. In three years the company has received the order for installation of lifts in under construction Tour d'Eiffel.

First safe lift Otis has been delivered to Russia by request of Alexander III in 1893 and is established in the Winter Palace.

In 1890 52-year-old Charles Otis has decided to leave a post of the head of the company «on a state of health». He has died in 37 years, having gone through many relatives, including brother Norton who formally was president Otis Brothers and Co in 1890th years.

William Baldwin became the actual head of the company at Norton Otis. Norton was involved more with the political career its election in the congress of the USA in 1903 became which top. Norton without a regret has passed reins of government the company in hands of the reliable person. Baldwin was the talented manager, resolute and rigid as that was demanded by time. There came a monopolisation epoch when strong-arm tactics and pressure upon competitors was considered as norm. With 1896 for 1904 in the USA 257 large corporations have absorbed more than 4000 firms. To one of active "devourers" of competitors became Otis. By 1898 to number of its victims have got more than ten companies.

In 1898 Baldwin has carried out reorganisation Otis Brothers and Co which has started to be called from now on Otis Elevator Company. Its capital then was estimated in $11 million In the XX-th century the company has entered, ready to the new technological break based on achievements electrical engineers.

First experimental electric lift Otis has presented in 1889, and in 1903 the industrial model bezreduktornogo the electric lift has been let out. After that the large American cities which considerably have "grown up" since times of Elajshi Otis, have even more promptly rushed up.

In 1900 on the World's fair in Paris company Otis has presented the first-ever escalator Charles Zeeberger was which founder. From its easy hand our lexicon included also the new term - "escalator" (Zeeberger has united an English word elevator - "lift" with Latin scala - "steps"). Escalators became the second principal view of production Otis.

In the first decades of the XX-th century the company systematically expanded the geographical presence. In 1910 Otis has opened in France the first foreign factory. And in 1915 company has opened representations in Moscow and St.-Petersburg. But after revolution property Otis being in the country has been nationalised. In 1920 turn of the company steadily dews, having made by the end of decade about $400 million (in recalculation on a present course). In the late twenties in Otis 19 500 persons worked. However with approach of Great depression half from them have dismissed. The company extremely painfully worried crisis. To support the failed business, it has been decided to concentrate on maintenance service of old lifts. From the beginning of 1930th years this service within more than ten years brought Otis more money, than production realisation. On the eve of the Second World War the company annual turnover has hardly reached level of the beginning of 1920th years.

During war Otis has received large military orders of military department. For Naval Forces of the USA the company has concluded the first contract on delivery of lifts in 1915. With the advent of aircraft carriers Otis has started to deliver on the ships hydraulic platforms for a raising of planes. Thanking these orders incomes Otis with 1941 for 1945 have increased twice.

By 1970 structure Otis included 34 companies outside of the USA which offices settled down almost in 300 cities of the world. In 1976 when annual turnover Otis has reached $1 mlrd, the company was a part United Technologies, which owns Carrier (the manufacturer of conditioners), Pratt and Whitney (aircraft engines) and a number of other enterprises.

Acquisition Otis by this corporation has appeared favourable to both parties. The company has received the advanced electronic technologies of space divisions UTC. So, in 1979 the control system of lifts which is based on microprocessors, and in 1981 - a control system including a synthesizer of speech and an information board has been introduced. Next two decades Otis has expanded assortment of production. The company began to let out travolatory (horizontal moving paths), and also trains shuttle, intended for transportations of people and cargoes on small distances and used in large shopping centres and the airports.

In 1990 Otis has decided to expand the presence at Russia and has created the first joint venture in situated near Moscow SHCHerbinke, and then has opened in the country three factories. Zatratnyj the period lasted long, but today Russian division Otis is most dynamically developing after Chinese. For last three years the company turn in Russia has grown three times and has made in 2003 3,2 mlrd rbl.

For 13 years Otis has learnt to work in specific Russian conditions. Last year it has presented lift Otis 2000R, created on the basis of popular model in Europe Otis 2000 and intended specially for sale to Russia. In the new lift high degree of protection against vandalism is provided, and there are no details from nonferrous metals - «from a sin far away» as one of representatives of the company has told.

Otis is the world's largest company on release of lifts and escalators. It supervises over 25 % of the world market of the hoisting-and-transport equipment. The company turn in 2003 has made $7,9 billion In staff Otis nearby 60 000 persons.