First escalator patent by Nathan Ames | Techday, August 9th
Nathan Ames, from Massachusetts, was the first to patent (US25076A) a design of an escalator on this TECHDAY in history, on August 9th 1859, but no working model of it was ever built. The name of it was “revolving stairs” and it is considered to be the earliest patent of an invention that is now widely used around the world.
It is important to note that the escalator as we know it today is quite different from Ames’ original design. His invention was intended to be a moving staircase for use in a theater, and it was powered by hand. The first true escalator, which used a steam-powered belt to move steps, was not invented until 1892 by Jesse W. Reno. Additionally, while Nathan Ames filed a patent for his invention in 1859, it was not granted until 1892. This is due to the patent process taking a long time and because the patent office did not consider his invention as an “escalator” but rather a “moving stairway”.
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Read yesterday’s techday story here.
Author: PC-GR
The World of Technology
