Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-10-27
ORIGIN OF THE LIFT"
yeiayer Invented and Used Flying
Chair in Paris ESQ Years Ago.

Chair in Paris ESQ Years Ago.
We are now informed that the lift"
or elevator the apparatus which
takes US from the ground floor to the
top of the house in few seconds. is
not modern invention, says Brus-
sells paper.
An ingenious contrivance OF a SINH
lar nature was constructed in the
middle of the Seventeenth century,
in Paris. by a man named Velayer,
who called his invention fying
chair.
Nelayer's lift was not merely toy.
1t became very fashionable among
rich people on account of its utility
1t was simply chair attached to a
rope, which was passed over pulley,
or something which did duty for one,
and had we ght at It's other end to
counterbalance the hair and the
occupant
1t continued in fashion until mis-
hap occurred 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 rescued by her servants, who had
to break away the wall to release her.
"flying chairs were not much used
at the court afterward
Some years later certain NJ
Thonier. who dabbled in mechanics
in his leisure time. made a similar
chair. which he worked from the
balcony outside his window He thus
escaped the danger of being shut up
in a shaft. "a the kings daughter
was.
NJ Thonier kept his arrangement
secret. and hal man& laughs at the
expense Of his friends who came 20
visit him. When they left him he
would make some excuse for not 60
ing downstairs with them, but when
they reached the courtyard they
were amazed - find him standing
there awaiting them.
To their questions he would return
jesting replies, and then seat himself
in his chair and go up so quickly
that they were quite unable to dis
cover how he cid it
DuG NCluCSAS ONGEGOOh HIN. J0e
day, instead of surprising his friends
agreeably. he did so disagreeably.
for the machinery broke and he came
greatly 20 griei He used the stair
case after his recovery.
In a book published about 1856,
there is an article on the flying
chair. The author expresses sur
prise that such useful invention
is not employed to greater extent.
but concludes that this is due to tho
fact that the rspidity OF descent can
not be 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 regulate the movement and stop
when he likes
Imagine a square shaft in the corner
of the building lighted by lateral
openings in the outer wall, and con-
tanning on one side a tube or small
shaft for the leaden counterpoise.
This latter is attached to a rope
which is passed two or three times
round horizontal cylinder of wood
fixed above the shaft; the other end
is fastened to square cage, in which
is a comfortable chair with a foot
board.
There Is an arrangement OF wheels
and pulleys, and two cords or straps
which pass over movable pulieys al
the top and fixed pulleys at the
bottom of the shaft; the cords also
pass through the footboard Of the
chair. A catch. worked by servant
at the top OF the shaft, keeps the
chair still at any required spot.
The principle i the same as in
NeIayer's chair. but the two cords
act as regulator. by pl essing against
them the speed can be moderated
and the chair even brought to stand
still.
A kind of latch. which the occupant
Of the chair moves with his foot
secures the chair to the step of the
door whore he wishes to get out
Although all this has been in print
for so many years. very few people
seem to know it. In 1860, or there
abouts. somebody brought out s
"new' invention, which was nothing
but Nelayer's pr mitive lift