Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-12-02
ORION OF THE LIFT"
velaysr Invented and Used sFiylne
Chair Ia Paris ESQ Years Ago.

or elevator the apparatus which
takes us from the ground floor 70 the
top of the house In few seconds, Is
not modern invention, says Brus.
sells paper,
An ingenious continuance az SINH
lar nature was constructed In the
middle OF the seventeenth century,
in Paris. by a man named Nelayer,
who called his invention a dying
chair.
Yelayer's lift was not merely toy.
Ii became very fashionable among
rich people on account OF It's utility.
II was simply a chair attached 20
rope, which was passed over pulley,
or something which did duty for one,
and had a weight at its other end to
counterbalance the chair and tho
occupant.
II continued in fashion until mis-.
hap occurred 10 the kings daughter
at Versailles On one occasion the
machinery failed 10 work whea ahe
was half way up. and there she stuck
for three good hours before she could
be rescued by her servants. who had
to break away the wall to release her.
Flying chairs were not much used
al the court aiterward.
Some years later a certain NJ.
Thonier, who dabbled In mechanics
In his leisure time. made 3 similar
chair, which bio worked from tho
balcony outside his window. He thus
escaped the danger Of being shut up
in shaft. as the kings daughter
was
NJ Ihonier kept his arrangement
secret. and had many laughs at the
expense u his friends who came 10
visit him. When they left him he
would make some excuse for not 20.
ing downstairs with them. bat when
they reached the cou t.yard they
were amazed y fui him standing
there await ng them.
10 their questions hc would return
Jest ~ replies. and thon seat himself
in his chair and 90 up 70 quickly
that they were quite unable 10 dis.
cover how he did H.
hut Nemesis overlook him One
day. instead % surprising his friends
agreeably. he did 50 disagrceably.
for the machinery brok aud DO came
greatly TO grief lie used the stair
case after his recovery
la a book published about 1856.
there Is an article on the flying
chair The author expresses sur
prise that such a useful invention
Is not employed 20 greater extont.
but concludes that this Is due 10 tho
fact that the rapidly % descent can
not be- regulated
lie. therefore gives an explanation
OF the manner Ia which the chairs
should be constructed 10 order 10
obtain full power over the machinery.
and enable the occupant % tho chair
% regulate the movement aud stop
when he likes
Imagine q square shaft In the corner
OF tho building lighted by lateral
openings in tho outer wall. and con.
tanning on one side a tube or small
shaft for tho lcadcn couutcrpOiso,
This latter Is attached 20 ropo
which y passed two or thrrr times
round u horizontal cylinder ~ wood
/ fixed above the shaft the other ond
Is fastened TO a square cage. In which
Is q comfortable char with foot
| board.
There Is an arrangement % wheoIs
and pullcys. and two cords or atrAps
which paU over movable pulIoys at
the top and fixed pullcys az the
bottom Of the shaft. the cords also
pass through tho footbogrd OF tho
chair. A catch. worked by servant
at tho top OF the shalt. keeps the
chair still at any required spot
Tho principle IL the same a. n
Velayer's chair, but the two cords
act as a regulator by essing against
them the speed can be moderated.
and the chair even brought 20 a stand.
still
A kind Of latch. which tho occupant
Of the chair moves with his foot.
secures the chair to the step or tho
door whore ho wishes to get out.
Although all this has boon In print
for so many years. very Few people
seem to know II. In 1860. or thore-
abouts. somebody brought out a
new" invention. which was nothing
but Nolayer's primitive lift