The morning call., 1893-08-13
ORIGIN OF THE Gift"
Velayer Invented and Used a "Flying
Chair" i'm Paris ESQ Years Ago.


We are now informed that the "lift'' or 'ele-
vator." the apparatus which takes us from the
ground floor TO the top of the house in few
seconds, Is not a modern invention. says a
Brussels paper. An ingenious c0ntrivance Of
a similar nature was constructed In he middle
of the seventeenth century in The city Of
Paris by a man named Velayer. who called
his invention a flying chair. Nelayer's lift
was not merely toy; 1t became very fash
iouable among rich people on account OF. It's
utility. 1t was simply chair attached to
rope which was passed over pulley-Or
something which did duty for One-and had a
weight al lis other end TO counierbaance the
chair and the occupant. 1t continued in fash
ion until a mlshap Occurr TO the kings
daughter at Versailles. On one occasion the
machinery failed to work when she was half
way up, and there she stuck for three good
hours before she could be rescu-d by her ser
wants who had to break away the wall to re-
lease her
Flying chairs" were not much used at the
court after ward. Some years later certain
NJ Thopier, who dabbed in mechanics IN his
leisure time made similar chair, which he
worked from the balcony outside his window.
He thus ESCAPED the danger OF being shut up
in shaft, as the Kings daughter was. Nj.
Tbonier kepr his arrangement secret and had
MANY laugh at the expense OF his friends
who came to visit him. when they lett him
lie would make some excuse Tor not gong
downstairs with them. but when they reached
the COURTYARD they were amazed Ia find him
standing there awaiting them o their queS-
ton he would return testing replies, and then
seat himself in his char and 60 up so quickly
that they were quite unable to discover how he
did IT, But Nemesis overlook him. One day,
instead of .urpIising his friends agreeably. lie
did so dlsagreeably. for the machinery broke
and he came greatly 10 grleI. lie USED the
staircase after his recovery
In a book published about 1886 there is an
article on the flying chair" The author ex-
presses surprise that such a us ful Invention
is not employed TO greater extent. but con-
cludes that this is due TO the fact that the
rapdity OF descent cannot ne regulated. He
therefore gives an explanation Of the manner
in which the chairs should be constructed In
order to obtain full power over the machinery
and enable the occupant OF the chair to regn-
late the movement aud stop when he likes.
Imagine a square shaft In the corner of the
wall and containing on ono side tube small
shaft for the eaden counterrolse. The latter
IL attached TO a rope, wnIch Is passed Two or
th, 90 times round a horizontal cylinder of WOOD
fixed above the shaft. the other end Is fastened
to q square cage, I'D WHICH Is comfortable
chair with fOotDOafu.
There il an arrangement OF wheels and pull
leys and two cords or Straps W3ch pass over
moyahle pulleys at The top and fixed pulieys
ar the bottom of The shaft; the cords also pass
throuoh the footboard of the chair A each.
WORK ed nv a servant at the top of the shaft
keen. the chair still at any required spot. The
mr. ipcinIe is the same as in Velayer's chair bu:
the two cords acG as regulator; by pressing
AGAINST them The speed can be moderated and
tha chair even brought to a standsilIl Any
kind of latch, which the occupant Of The chair
mnves with his foot, secures the chair TO the
step of the door where Dr wishes to get out.
Although this has been in print for so many
vears very few people seem to know 1t, In
ySeO mr. t6erea bouts somebody brought ont a
..new,, invention, which was nothing but We
LAYERS primitive ILL.,