Escalator part; sections from the spiral elevator at Holloway Road station, 1906
Main details
Reference number | 1999/876 part 0 |
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Description | Buried at the bottom of a lift shaft for 77 years, this spiral elevator was an engineering experiment ahead of its time. It was designed by inventor Jesse Reno and installed in an unused lift shaft at Holloway Road station in 1906. The spiral escalator consisted of two spirals encircling a central core - an outer spiral for the descent, and an inner one for the ascent. It ran continuously in a clockwise direction, travelling at a speed of 100 feet (30 metres) a minute. The journey to street level took approximately 45 seconds. It's likely that safety concerns prevented the complex machine from ever being used. It was dismantled in 1911, and the remains were discovered in 1988 at the bottom of the lift shaft during maintenance work. In 2010 a four metre section was restored. |
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Dates | 1906 |
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Completeness | 100% |
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Physical description
Design Attribute Value Material woodmetal -
People involved
Role Person(s) involved Designer Jesse Reno, 1906 -
Associated companies, people and places
Places Place Holloway Road station, 1906
More stories about the spiral elevator
Blog category
- Collections
Spiral escalator: An engineering wonder ahead of its time
By Laura Sleath, 2 August 2018
In 1988, the rusty remains of an engineering experiment were found buried at the bottom of a lift shaft at Holloway Road station. Laura Sleath explores more about this engineering wonder ahead of its time.
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