Who Invented the Elevator?

__________________________________________________
Published by Rachelle Disbennett-Lee
Sunday, August 4, 2002
=============================================

I am often amazed at the miracles that are all around us. Take, for instance, the elevator. It amazes me that anyone would think of such an invention and yet not many buildings over two stories are without one. The elevator has been with us since the third century B.C. They were primitive models of the modern day elevator powered by water, animals or humans. In the 1800's, steam powered elevators were used to move material in factories, mines and warehouses. Around 1850, a safety device was invented for elevators that prevented them from falling in the event the supporting cable broke. At the end of the 19th century, electric elevators came into use. The use of the electric elevator made skyscrapers a practical reality.

OK, nice history lesson, but so what? The "so what" is in the everyday miracles that are all around us. If we ever wonder what we have to be grateful for, we simply have to look around. We live in an amazing world where incredible inventions, simple and complicated, make our lives easier. It is easy to take such things for granted because we have become used to them and do not see them as anything special. The inventions around us are special and they stand as a reminder of what an amazing world we live in.

The question, "Who invented the elevator?" does not have a one-person answer. No one person invented it. The concept of the elevator has been around a long time. What happened is many people made improvements on it until we have the version of today. "The question is often asked of those within the elevator industry, "When and where was the elevator invented and by whom?" This would elicit the same response if the question concerned the birth of the ship, automobile, locomotive or aircraft. All such complex machines are the brainchildren of countless innovators." (http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blelevator.htm)

It takes the brains, skills, and ingenuity of many people to create the everyday miracles that so often are taken for granted.

Coaching

If you ever wonder what you have to be thankful for, look around. You are surrounded by miracles. We could even go one step further and be thankful for the people who, through their ingenuity, skill, and foresight, created their dream into a reality.

We live in an amazing time where we are surrounded by great inventions and more are being created everyday. Just when I think nothing else can be created, something new is. The wonderful thing about the human mind is its ability to dream it and create it.

How can you bring your dreams into reality?

Daily Success Formula

Dreams + Creativity + Brain power of many = Inventions

Quotes

"Our inventions mirror our secret wishes." Lawrence Durrell

"Necessity is the mother of invention." Unknown

"I don't think necessity is the mother of invention, invention arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness. To save oneself trouble." Agatha Christie

"Inventions reached their limit long ago, and I see no hope for further development." Julius Frontinus, 1st century A.D.