The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-17
i'm Electric Hotel TrarnWay
Register, Pull Lever, and Before You Gan
Say Jack Robinson You IRE at
Your Chamber Door

or stand still. The details of the motor
are exactly similar to the ones under
trolley streetcars.
These cars themselves can be made very
attractive, especially if they are made to
match the furniture and the rest of the
house furnishings; or they may be made
somethinl after the style of swanboat
with a gracefully rounded front which
curls upward and practically surrounds the
occur ants while the back ward sweep of
the sides partially covers the body of the
bellboy in charge. These cars can be
made very ornamental as well as useful,
ana there is practically no limit 10 the
possibilities of the artificer's skill in max
ing them light fairy looking affairs, con-
structed of and decorated in any fancitul
design which may be chosen by the hotel
proprietor or conceived by the maker.
Then as the car rolls noiselesslv along over
its well-polished rails it seems to be sliding
along the floor in the most mysterious but
rapid fashion.
When the guest has taken his place in
the car and the bellboy is told the number
of the room turn of the lever starts the
car on its way. As the car starts up the
stairs a strong cogwheel under the center
of the car, but sufficiently high 10 clear
the floor when on the lever, works over a
third rail placed in the center of the track
from the bottom to the top of the stairs.
This third rail is notched to fit the cogs Of
the wheel, and thus the ascent is made up
the broad stairway to the floor above with
out slipping. The tracks lead all over the
house, and each floor is a complete rail-
ucto in iafU The N
be switched from one set of rails to an
other by simply pressing an electric but
ton within the car, and the current pass
ing through the wheels to the rails auto
maticalIy sets the switch, one pressure OF
the button throwing the switch in one d.
rection, two resetting 1t and three throw
ing it in the opposite direction. By this
means the cars can go to any part OF the
house.
Not only can this indoor tramway be
used in carrying goods from the office to
t cir rooms, but it will be OF inestimable
value to invalids, who by this means can
sit in their rooms, call bellboy and tax
ing the car at their room door be carried
without any exertion on the part OF any
one and no personal effort directly to the
dining-room, parlor, smoking room or
cafe, as they may elect.
By the use of this invention stranger
going into his room in a strange house
will not feel like an explorer of unknown
foreign regions, wherein may be pitfalls in
the shape of unknown stairways, open air
shafts or pieces of furniture lying in wait
in unexpected places to upset the advent
urer whose temporary aim in life is to find
his own room and not by mistake wander
into the linen press or housekeeper's pri-
vate sanctum.
In addition to its many advantages this
invention is an Improvement on even the
most modern elevators in that it can make
the trip between floors almost as quickly
as an elevator, and the necessity of walk
! ing 10 the elevator and then from the ele-
vator to ones room is done away with.
Mr. Lock wood is firmly convinced that
his invention will practically revolution
ize the present methods of getting about
! in the hotels of the country, and he is con-
! fident that he will soon witness practical
demonstration in the leading hotels OF his
electric hotel tramway.