The evening times., 1896-12-26
UPON A MOVING STAIRWAY
Novel Device for Taking Passen-
gers Up to Brooklyn Bridge.
1T Is DONE BY ELECTRICITY
Machine Like a Treadmill Reversed
Climb Up Steps on Platform
Worked by an Endless Belt or
Chain.

New York, Dec. 26-Thc Reno inclined
elevator, or moving stairway, was put into
experimental use ON the Brooklyn Bridge
half an hour or so on Thursday, for the edifi-
cation OF the bridge officials. tits the small
experimental machine which was operated
two weeks last summer at Coney Island. In
that time it carried 10 900 persons or more
without accident.
The machine is built for making lift OF
only about seven feet, and as this is only
about half the height OF a bridge story, the
place chosen for It's operation is that furthest
To the eastward on the right hand side of The
lower floor of the bridge entrance. The
elevator stands there just to the right Of the
regula Is. airway and la nd its passengers
beside those who walk up these stairs.
As the passengers will then have to walk
up the next half flight of steps, the new
elevator will not be able to add much, II
anything, to the bridge accommodations, but
ought to show whether it can be relied upon
for regular and satisfactory service.
How the Thing Works.
The new elevator is In effect a treadmin
The new elevator is in effect a treadmin
reversed in its action. The passengers step
upon the endless belt which forms its plat
form, grasp handrail which moves at the
same rate with the platform, and are car
ried UP by an electric motor which keeps
the platform moving.
The ingenious points about the machine
are the devices for saving the passengers
from injury either by the platform where it
dives out Of sight to start upon its return
journey or by the moveing handrail.
The platform is formed of Jointed Stats
which carry upon their upper faces upright
plates of steel about an inch apart which
form continuouslines down the whole length
of the endless structure. The upper part OF
these plates is roughened to give a fOothold
and upon these the passenger stands.
At the two ends of the machine the plat
form passes under comblike edge-piece,
whose rounded points He in the grooves
between the plates. The passengers foot
is slid upon these comb pieces before the
moving piece drops away over its carrying
wheels. and all the passenger has 10 do after
he has stepped on and been carried up is to
walk away when he has been safely landed
at the top
Operation OF the HandraiI.
The handrail consists OF a series of con-
nected rollers, forming an endless chain
These pass along in holder formed OF a
U-shaped piece of steel. Over the rollers
and fastened to them is a covering OF leath-
er, which, being like a letter U inverted.
covers the rollers and their channel ef-
fectually. The passenger grasps the leather
and il slips away from his hand at the top,
where il passes over a wheel, there to
start upon its return journey.
II the bridge mana cement should decide
to put such elevators into regular service
they would be built to carry up double lines
of people and have a handrail on eac side.
twas about 2:30 O'Clock yesterday after
noon when CHIEF Engineer Martin, Trustee
Henriques and a number OF other trustees
and officials came over from Brooklyn to
try the moving stairway. Mr.. Reno started
1t up for them, and M. Henriques was the
first passenger. He was so delighted that
he ran downstairs aud rode up again and
again until he had made five trips.
Precaution Against Accidents.
Il wish we had 1t ready for the people to-
day. he said.
Mr.. Re no expects to have it all ready 10
run publicly on Monday. The electric
motor, which operates IL, stands under the
stairway. This moves the wheels which
carry the platform around by means Of a
worm or screw gearing.
A controllers box. from which the move
ments of the motor can be regulated, is
placed against wall just to the right OF
the stairway, and man will be stationed
there at all times when the stairway is
moving, with his hand on the regulating
lever and his eyes on the passengers, TO
prevent accidents.