Five Interesting Facts About Lifts 

In shopping malls, home, offices and hundreds of other locations, lifts are an important invention that makes travelling between floors easier. In modern architecture, skyscrapers and multi-floor buildings are on every corner so without lifts, we’d have a hard time getting about. As a part of everyday life, you’ve probably never sat and thought about elevators but there’s a lot more to them than meets the eye.

Not only have they shaped the way we live but some of the most amazing buildings and landmarks are only accessible via lift. To learn a little more about lifts and what’s makes them one of the best inventions, we’ve put together this interesting blog including five top facts.

Read on to learn more about the world of elevators.

Elevator music makes riders feel calm

Everybody recognises the famous elevator music, also known as Muzak, but what’s its purpose? Created in 1922, the first elevator music was developed by George Owen Squier in South California. The idea behind the creation was a way of calming fearful and anxious passengers who were using the elevator for the first time. Originally, Muzak’s songs were made by popular musicians and held simple melodies that can be easily looped to play all day in the lift. Later, Muzak began created their own songs and the music was used commercially in restaurants, hotels and workplaces to improve productivity.

As of 2010 they have produced over 2 million songs and are offering over 100 internet streaming radio channels. Today, elevator music is instantly recognisable and has even become a part of pop culture and modern music. Several popular music stars unsuccessfully tried to buy Muzak Holdings with the sole goal of shutting them down. Today Muzak supplies over 350.000 clients and their music is heard by over 100 million people daily.

Lifts used to be called ‘rising rooms’

Did you know that elevators used to be called rising rooms? For example, when lifts were introduced to the UK such as in The Langham hotel, they were referred to as rising rooms. Early lifts also used to have benches for people to sit on as well as mirrors and even a chandelier. Unlike today, riding the lift was seen as a time to sit back and relax. Riders would have an operator who was in charge of opening and closing the door and sending the lift up or down very slowly. This kind of service can still be found in luxury hotels but in most cases, people operate their own lift.

In the early days of the lift, being an elevator operator was considered a highly skilled job. In Germany, pre WW2, you could train for 3 years and become fully qualified. Early elevators were all controlled by a device called a shipper rope and it was the job of the operator to stop pulling the rope before the elevator came to the desired floor because even when they stopped, the cabin still moved.

At ADL Lift Services, we can install a range of lifts for domestic and commercial use. Our time-served engineers are qualified (NVQ Level, CSCS) and trained in all aspects of lift installation for all models. Each lift is tested from inception to completion by experienced Quality Control Managers before delivering to customers, so you can rest assured that you’ll receive top-quality products.

Lifts were first used in ancient times

Lifts are actually a lot older than you may think. The first form of elevators was said to be recorded by the Roman architect Vitruvius who noted that Archimedes built the first lift in 236 BCE. However, they weren’t the same lifts that we see today. In ancient times, lifts were used as a means of transporting objects from A to B when doing construction work. However, Archimedes was talented and renowned in Physics and engineering, being the person who first discovered or wrote an explanation on levers so the initial design would have been made from ropes that were powered by people or animals.

Having said that, Archimedes did come up with two important components that impacted how lifts are now developed - the pulley and Archimedes screw. The screw was a machine that can be used to lift different materials like water and grains. Lifts and hoists were also used throughout the industrial revolution until the 18th and 19th century when passenger lifts, most similar to what we know today, were created.

The Burj Khalifa has the longest-running elevator

Not only does the Burj Kahlifa have the third fastest elevator, but its elevator journey is the longest distance in the world. Located in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is world-renowned for its height and having the longest single running elevator, which is 140 floors. Riders can go to the observation deck on the 124th floor which only takes one minute.

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest freestanding structure in the world. With the highest number of stories in the world, the elevator ride is definitely one to experience. The engineers working on the design first thought about installing triple-decker elevators, which would have been the first in the world. The double-decker elevators that have instead been installed have a capacity of 12 to 14 persons per cabin. The Burj Khalifa elevator time to reach the observation deck on the 124th floor (at 504 m) is only one minute.

You can hire a lift for £24,000

If you like luxury stays, at The Langham you can stay in a penthouse suite and have your very own lift! The penthouse has six bedrooms, 450 square meters of floor space, a baby grand piano, 24-hour butler service and access to a private chef. Forget about queuing up to use the lift when you come in and out of the hotel as you’ll be riding in your own personal elevator. However, this luxury does not come cheap! The maximum price of this suite is around £24,000 per night!

ADL Lifts Services: Lift Specialists in Scotland

At ADL Lift Services in Scotland, we understand the importance of personalised lift work. With over 100 years of experience, our team can help with installations, maintenance and modernisation. Fully accredited by all major bodies, you can rely on us for all of your elevator needs.

Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of clients across the UK. Helping both domestic and commercial customers, our experts will work carefully with you to design a system that’s efficient and within your budget. Whether you’re looking for a disabled lift to improve the accessibility of your home or a passenger lift to improve foot traffic flow in your business, our excellent services will advise you from beginning to end.

If you’re looking for a professional lift service provider, look no further than ADL Lift Services. Our team of lift manufacturers in Scotland provide some of the very best services across the country, with expert knowledge, years of experience and unbeatable customer service. For more information, call our friendly team in Motherwell on 01698 277 009 or email us today.