Sf Goes ELLITHORPE, HO HSGRAY ee es Fy FD ELLE ROR ES, Patentee and Gen’l Manager. Gen’! Supt., Syracuse, N.Y. Gen’! Agt. for the U.S. ONE GREAT LAW oF NATURE MADE TO OPPOSE AND NEU- TRALIZE ANOTHER GREAT NATURAL. LAW. THE LAW OF GRAVITY OPPOSED BY THE LAW OF ATMOSPHERIC RESISTANCE. - —————>-_ 9 + ____—_—_ THE AIR-CUSHION ” ATTACHED TO ELEVATORS, SECURES PERFECT SAFETY AND AVERTS THOSE FATAL DISASTERS RESULTING FROM THE FALLING OF ELEVATOR- CABS. eg 24 Endorsed by ali the Prominent Elevator Builders of the United States. or oe ee - — GENERAL OFFICE FOR THE U. S.: ~Nos. 46, 48 « 50 N. Morean. SrrReeEt, CHICAGO, ILLS. wo i — - COMMUNICATIONS MAY BE ADDRESSED TO HENRY BEIDLER, Chicago. A. C. ELLITHORPE, N. Y. City, P.O. Box No. 1777. Or, HARRISON H. GRAY, Syracuse. N, Y. “Hore Mat.” Print, 82 and 84 Nassau St, N.Y. | RHEFERERHNCEHS. We refer to the following prominent buildings where the ELLITHORPE PATENT SAFETY ATR-CUSHION has been adopted : MON AIMPSL OL COMMOLGE..... 0006. 0c0 see teeneee de Fe OS head SOR Ee OEIC Chicago. 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AnDpD, IF so, How? 2 OF Passenger and freight elevators have become a_ necessity. Their introduction into hotels, business houses, factories, and, in fact, into all buildings where facility is required in the conduct of business, or where comfort and convenience is sought, the elevator is irresistibly forcing its way, and it is regarded by the public with the same favor as other modern improved methods of transporta- tion. It is a necessity, and we must have it—and we will have it— eyen though it is constantly plagued with fatal accidents and dis- astrous mishaps. Like the railroads and steamboats whose re- curring disasters are constantly bridged over and condoned by the increasing necessity and demand for their use. So with the elevator, it will claim our patronage through our necessities ; hence as much care and precaution should be exercised in the construc- tion of elevators as in the construction of locomotives or of passen- ger steamers. We have a number of first-class manufacturers of elevators who take a commendable pride in using every possible means that skill and ingenuity can devise to render their elevators safe. How well they are succeeding is, perhaps, best demonstrated by the constantly increasing demand upon them. That old and imperfect devices for safety on these machines must pass away, and give place to advanced ideas and more per- fect appliances, is only the result of a more matured experience in the use of this new method of transportation. The numerous accidents that are constantly occurring through- out the country operate to deter many persons from adopting the elevator in their buildings. _ If the public could be assured of the entire safety of these machines from accidents, their use and adop- tion would be augmented very materially. 2 There is not a prominent elevator builder in this country who is not anxious to see the system brought to such a state of perfec- tion as will make the elevator absolutely safe, beyond a question of doubt. Vast amounts of money have been expended to devise some absolute method that would insure the perfect safety of the passengers in case the car should fall. Thus far all have worked to the end of preventing the car from falling at all; or, in case it did fall, to instantly stopit. In trying to accomplish this end, they have resorted to various kinds of mechanical devices, relying solely upon the prompt action of these appliances at the critical moment. Experience has demonstrated that a failure of these appliances to act, inevitably produces disaster. And that they do fail to act is evidenced by the frequent records of “ Fatal Elevator Accidents.” It is not our purpose to criticise any particular manufacture of elevators, or to refer to the numerous accidents in such a man- ner as to create prejudice against the builder—tor the reason that disasters will occur in spite of all the precautions that are used in the shape of mechanical automatic safetys. Neither is it our purpose to discuss the merits of any par- ticular automatic sa/fety-device owned or operated tby the various manufacturers. We quote a very plain spoken article from the Scientific Amer- ican of June 5, taken from the Dry Goods Bulletin, upon the sub- ject of elevators, which is worthy of a careful perusal : We have in the City of New York several thousand elevators. They are used in almost every large and prominent establishment. Again they say : Searcely a month has elapsed since the accident at Fall River, by which Mr. Sevey was killed and Mr. Crowly has since died of his injuries. Since that time, there have been eleven elevator accidents, and some one has been injured each time. What is still more alarming, all the elevators except two had safety appliances, and yet im every in- stance the car, or cage, fell to the bottom of the well. What we need is something that will prove safe under all circumstances. What that will be we do not know, but our merchants who build warehouses a hundred feet high should interest themselves in providing for the absolute safety of the tens of thousands who daily use their elevators. They further say : There is certainly ingenuity enough among our inventors to contrive some ap- pliance which will render elevators absolutely safe. We also subjoin the following from the Dry Goods Bulletin, under date of May 3, 1880, which appears to solve the question of safety so anxiously sought in the preceding article : THE ELLITHOBRPS PATENT SAFETY AIR-CUSHION. An important and indispensable adjunct of every modern building, publie or private, whether used for dwelling or business purposes, isthe elevator. No structure U is now complete without one, and the majority of elevators constructed in recent years, and to be built in the future, will be used for the conveyance of passengers, since that is the principal object of their introduction. When, therefore, the vast number of human lives daily entrusted to the security of elevators is taken into consideration, it becomes a matter of the deepest moment to provide for their safety in every way, and take every possible precaution against accident, the question of expense, if it should arise, being an entirely secondary and subordinate one. Elevator accidents are becoming yery frequent, and when they do oceur they are frightful, and every means should be employed to guard against their happening. There is one great principle which can be successfully applied to falling elevators from the very nature of their construction, and one so simple and complete that its application commends itself at once to the judgment of every intelligent mind. It is simply to oppose one great law of nature with another, and against the attraction of gravity, to set the resisting qualities of the atmosphere. By making the shaft in which the elevator works an air-tight well, with an air-tight chamber at the bottom, the thing is done, and if the cage becomes detached from the hoisting cable there will always be a cushion of compressed air below to receive it. This important invention as applied to elevators has been patented by Albert C. Elli_ thorpe, of Chicago, and should be applied, in addition to all other precautions, to every elevator hereafter constructed. Properly constructed, it seems to us that the Ellithorpe Elevator affords a sure and constant protection from disastrous consequences in the use of elevators, so far as the danger of falling is concerned, and we should expect to see it adopted by sensible and cautious builders and property-owners everywhere. The following is from the Chicago Times (editorial), in a very elaborate article discussing the whole elevator system. It says: The matter of safety appliances is one which is worthy of the greatest amount of study and attention. A thorough examination of this branch of the Elevator system will convinee anyone that a majority of the so-called safety appliances are very plausi- ble in theory and appearance, but are utterly worthless in practice. They depend for their prompt operation upon certain mechanical agencies whose action is liable to be- come impaired by long disuse, and which may be thrown out of order by a trifling acci- dent, so that when most needed they may not be able to render the required service. In this connection it may be said that in the article referred to, there is given a description of asafety appliance—(The Ellithorpe Safety Air-Cushion)—concerning whose absolute security there can be no dispute, and which, while thus safe beyond any question, is so yery simple in construction that anything like getting out of repair is an entire impos- sibility. This appliance has lately been put in the building occupied by the Times, and in many other prominent buildings in Chicago, and at other points, and in every in- stance it has proved a complete success. In the article from the Scientific American, they struck the key-note of the “ Hllithorpe Air-Cushion” by saying that “It is simply to oppose one great law of nature with another,” viz: to resist attractidn of gravitation by opposing the elastic qualities of the common atmosphere as a resisting force. This explanation, when understood, becomes at once apparent, and cannot be questioned. The falling cab of an elevator would be as surely stopped in its downward flight, if opposed by the element of air (properly confined), as that the element of water would throw to its surface any substance lighter than itself. 4 We have asked the question “Can accidents or loss of life from falling elevator cabs be averted?” We say, Yes; absolutely. The falling of an elevator cab may be rendered perfectly harmless. No harm can possibly come to the occupants of the cab “if the air-cushion is properly constructed for it to fall upon, and, when once built to an elevator, it becomes a permanent fixture, and is not dependent upon any mechanical appliances for the in- stantaneous performances of its duties. The laws of nature com- q ‘ ‘ ; pel it to act. Herewith we subjoin testimonials from prominent and well- known citizens in various parts of the country. They are easily conferred with, and we are quite sure they will take pleasure in endorsing (emphatically) everything relative to the merits of the Air-Cushion. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CHICAGO, July 28, 1879. To the Public: : . We feel it a duty we owe to Mr, A. C. Ellithorpe, and to the publie, to state the fol- lowing facts: Mr. Ellithorpe has attached his improved Air-Cushion to the elevator in this building, and has subjected it to the following severe, and, as we believe, complete tests: First—The cab of the elevator was allowed to fall from the top of the shaft to the bottom, the elevator cab weighing 4,500 po unds, without the least injury to anything connected with the cab or shaft. Second—The cab was again elevated to the top of the shaft, and two gentlemen took — positions on the floor ofthe cab, together with a basket of wine glasses andeggs the cab was again allowed to fall with all the velocity that the weight and gravity could give to it, and the wine glasses and eggs remained unbroken, the occupants were not in the 7 least injured or disturbed, nor was anything in or about the cab in the least injured. Third—The cab was again elevated to the top of the shaft, with the additional weight j of 4,000 pounds of pig iron placed on its platform, and was again cut loose from the cable, and allowed to fall, with the same result. We feel that we can, with perfect safety and good faith, assure the public that Mr. A Ellithorpe’s invention will be the means of securing perfect safety, and will result in wit averting those fatal disasters (which are so common) resulting from falling of elevator cabs. ‘ Asa Dow, Pres’t Board of Trade. DANIEL A. JONES, Pres’t Chamber of Commerce. | Cras. RANDOLPH, See’y Board of Trade. Cuas. L. Raymonp, Sec’y Chamber of Commeree. f GRAND Paciric Hore, CHICAGO, August 12, 1879. To the Public: Mr. A. G. Ellithorpe has applied his Patent Air-Cushion to the passenger elevator in the Grand Pacific Hotel, and on Saturday, August 9th, he dropped the passenger coach from the top of the building to the bottom, a distance of 85 feet, with passengers frail glassware, eggs, ete., none of which sustained the least injury, nor could the least con- eussion be detected. We cheerfully commend its use and application to all elevators JoHN B. DRAKE & Co., Proprietors. Since the air cushion was constructed in the Grand Pacific Hotel elevator, through some unknown cause, the cab fell fromthe 5 fourth floor with fifteen passengers in it, none of whom were in the slightest degree injured. Certificates from some of the passengers _ are here appended : Curcaao, Noy. 4, 1879. Col. A. C. ExuiTrHoRpE, General Manager of the Eliithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion Co., Chicago, IIlL.: Deak S1r—On the 29th of August last, I was on the passenger elevator at the Grand Pacific Hotel in this city, when the same fell three floors. As near as I can recollect, there were in all fourteen passengers on the elevator at the time of the accident, and I have no hesitancy in saying that,in my judgment, the lives of all were preserved through the instrumentality of your patent cushion, which had but a few days been at- tached to the elevator. None of the passengers, so far as I could see or learn, sustained any injury whatever from the fall. If your patent works as wellin the future as it did on the above occasion, you have much to hope from it. Very truly yours, H. W. LEMAN. CuHIcAGo, Sept. 27, 1879. To the Public: Feeling grateful to the inventor, we make the following statement: We were among the passengers in the elevator cab at the Grand Pacifie Hotel in this city when the acci- dent, on the 29th day of August, 1879, occurred. The cab dropped accidentally from the fourth floor to the bottom of the shaft without the least injury to any one in the cab. There were at the time (15) fifteen passengers in the cab. Hadit not been for the Air- Cushion, all the passengers would probably have been killed. W. Kress, 0. and A. R. R. 8. W. Lyman, C. and A. R. R. OFFICE OF A. BooTH, CHICAGO, Sept. 19, 1879. I witnessed the fall of the elevator at the Exposition, on Saturday, with the Elli- thorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion Attachment, the result was marvelous, I believe that jn the absence of anything better (and I cannot see how it can be improved), that every elevator in the country should be obliged to have this attachment before being allowed to be used. Had this been in my building, it would have saved the lives of two men up to this time. A. Booru. \ UNION WIRE MATTRESS Co., CHIcAGco, August 26, 1879. To the Public: We have had the Ellithorpe Safety Air-Cushion applied to our elevator and have had it tested by dropping the platform over forty feet, with a box of eggs, and a full pail of water upon it; the eggs were not broken, nor a drop of water spilled, which proved to us conclusively that the platform was stopped quietly and without any material shock whatever, and that no harm would have been done to any one if they had been upon it. We believe from what we have seen of it that it is a very valuable invention and that it will, in all cases where properly applied, render falling elevators perfectly harmless. : Union Wrre Martrress Co., Wm. Hendley, Secretary. D. J. Powers, President. From the Chicago Tribune, Aug. 30. A NARROW ESCAPE. ELEVATOR ACCIDENT AT THE GRAND PACIFIC. At 7 o’clock yesterday evening, an accident occurred to the elevator at the Grand Pacific Hotel, which, but for the Ellithorpe Air-Cushion recently putin by John B. Drake, Esq., would have been a terrible affair. The: elevator was coming down with fourteen persons, ladies and gentlemen, many of them members of the Union Square Theatre Company, of New York. As the elevator reached the fourth floor it suddenly dropped, from causes unknown. Owing to the Safety Air-Cushion, all escaped un- harmed. Had it not been for the Ellithorpe Air-Cushion all would have been killed, or very seriously injured. The following official certificates from the Inspector of Eleva- tors in the city of Chicago cannot fail in being recognized as ex- pert authority in such matters : DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, CHICAGO, Noy. 28, 1879. A. C. ELLITHORPE, Esq. : My Dear Srr—You ask me to give my opinion with reference to the use of haying dogs and ratchets in an elevator where the Air-Cushion has been placed. I am free to say that wherever the Air-Cushion is constructed in an elevator, the necessity for the dogs or any other safety appliance no longer exists, they would in my opinion, if replaced, become an element of danger. Respectfully, . Joun Mowatt, City Elevator Inspector, City of Chicago. CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 1879. To the Public: Colonel A. C. Ellithorpe has to my certain knowledge applied his Patent Air-Cushion to many elevators in this city, all having been subjected to the severest tests. In each and every case they have proved highly successful. I consider the Patent Air- Cushion the only invention to be relied upon for the protection of life and limb in case of accident. Respectfully, JoHN Mowatt, Elevator Inspector, City of Chicago. PRODUCE EXCHANGE, TOLEDO, Sept. 26, 1879. A. C. ELLITHORPE, Esq., Chicago: Dear StR:—The Air-Cushion put into our exchange elevator by you is a great success, Since its drop of eighty feet, with five men aboard and all the other extra weight, with- out any injury to the men or ear, all seem to have no fears should an accident occur and let the car drop atanytime. Our directors express great satisfaction with the Air- Cushion. Yours truly, M. D. CaARRINGTON, Chairman of Committee on Building, WHITCOMB Houss, RocHestTER, N. Y., May 7, 1880. Mr. A. C. ELLITHORPE: You have asked us to give our opinion of the merits of the Ellithorpe Air-Cushion. We take great pleasurein doing so. Your tests of falling the elevator in the Whitcomb. House, both empty and loaded with passengers, without the slightest damage to persons or property, convinces us that its adoption becomes an absolute necessity to guard against loss of life from falling elevators. WHITCOMB & CROUCH, Proprietors. OFFICE OF MARSHALL BRos., PITTSBURGH, Pa., Jan. 26, 1880. To the Publie: As Elevator-builders, and always on the look-out for Safety Attachments, and being witnesses to the test of the Ellithorpe Safety Air-Cushion at the Monongahela House in this city, we think it the best we have yet seen. . Respectfully, MARSHALL Bros. ee é SyRacusze SAVINGS Bank, SyRAcusSE, N. Y., May 11, 1880. To the Public: Mr. A. C. Ellithorpe, patentee of the Ellithorpe Safety Air-Cushion, has made appli- cation of the same to the passenger elevator in this building, and submitted it to the se- vere test of dropping the passenger coach from the top to the bottom, a distance of about one hundred feet, both times without injury to the coach or contents. The coach weighs about twenty-three hundred pounds; one thousand pounds of pig-iron was added, w.th eggs, glassware, &c., at the first test. At the second test six persons, eggs, glassware, &c., fell with the coach. None ofthe persons were in the least jarred or in- jured, nor were the eggs or glassware broken. We deem the Air-Cushion Safety as ab- solutely essential to all elevators, and that its merits should receive a general public recognition as being far in advance of any safety device yet known to the public. We cheerfully recommend its general adoption. EK. W. LEAVENWORTH, President. Mr. Joseph Medill, editor of the Chicago Tribune, bears testi- mony to the valne of the Ellithorpe Safety Air-Cushion in the following letter : Eprrortau Rooms, THE TRIBUNE, CHICAGO, June 22, 1880. Col. ELLITHORPE: DeAR SrR—I regard your Air-Cushion Safety Elevator as one of the most valuable life-saving inventions that has been offered to the public for many years. Itis bound to come into universal use on its merits. I can conceive of no substitute that is likely to. take its place. When riding in the Tribune elevator I feel a sense of personal safety not experienced previous to the adoption of the Air-Cusion. I feel an assurance that no lives will be lost by the breaking of a wire rope, or an accident to an engine, or its. - belting or pulleys. Yours truly, J. Mepruu, Editor, OFFICE OF THE CITY CrvIL ENGINEER, CLEVELAND. O., Feb. 26, 1880. To Whom it May Concern: This is to certify that the Ellithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion Company have just completed and tested one of their Air-Cushions under the City Hall passenger elevator for the city of Cleveland, and have completed it according to contract. The cab of the eleyator has been allowed to fall from attic to basement, a distance of 68 feet, four times, the last fall being the contract test. The cab was loaded with 800 to 1,000 pounds dead load ofiron, also with water,eggs and glassware,and a reporter on one of our eity papers. The cab fell the 68 feet without breaking an egg, spilling the water, or injur- ing the reporter in the least, and the whole test was pronounced a success. I can most cheerfully recommend the Ellithorpe Air-Cushion as being or haying all the merits they claim for it when properly constructed. Very respectfully, B. F. Morse, City Civil Engineer. Syracusks, N. Y., May 10, 1880. To the Public: This is to certify that the Messrs. Ellithorpes have attached what is known as the Ellithorpe Patent Air-Cushion to the passenger elevator in my building, and it gives me great satisfaction to say that it is all they claim for it. I am firmly of the opinion that no elevator ean be absolutely safe without it. Asa life-saving invention it merits uni- yersal adoption. Mitton S. PRICE. BIDDLE Houses, DETROIT, MIcH., Oct. 20, 1879. To the Public: I have adopted the Air-Cushion invented by Mr. A. C. Ellithorpe to the elevator in the Biddle House, and ata public test given Oct. 13, 1879, the elevator was dropped from the roof of the building to the bottom. The contents—seven men, eggs, glassware, &.— sustained not the slightest injury. I very cheerfully commend its application to all elevators. N. H. WrutaMs, Proprietor. RussELL Houses, DETROIT, Novy. 22, 1879. To the Public: We feel it a duty we owe to cheerfully endorse the Ellithorpe Patent Air-Cushion, and believe the introduction of the same should be applied to all elevators, thereby af- fording perfect safety from accidents on same, We have attached the Air-Cushion to the elevator in the Russell House and at a test given Noyember 21, 1879, during which the elevator was hoisted to the top of the building 8 loaded with 1,200 pounds of iron, eggs and frail glassware, was then detached and dropped to the bottom with entire and complete satisfaction. No elevator should be without this life-saving invention. Respectfully, WITBECK, CHITTENDEN & Co. MoNnoNGAHELA Housk, PIrrsBURGH, Pa, Jan. 23, 1880. To the Public: I most cheerfully endorse the Ellithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion, and believe its introduction should be applied to all elevators, thereby affording an absolute safe-guard against accident from the falling of elevator cabs. T have introduced the invention to the Monongahela House elevator, and on Satur- day, January 17th, 1880, the elevator was hoisted to the top of the building, loaded with seven men, eggs, frail glassware, etc., weighing in all nearly 5,000 pounds, was then detached and plunged upon the Air-Cushion without hurting the occupants or damag- ing the contents. As a life-saving invention for elevators it is perfect. Jno. McDONALD Crossan, Proprietor. KENNARD HOUSE, CLEVELAND, O., Dec. 29, 1879. To the Public: I most cheerfully endorse the Ellithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion, and believe its introduction should be demanded in all elevators, thereby giving absolute safety from accidents on same. Thave applied the invention to they elevator in the Kennard House, and the results from two tests—during which the elevator was cut loose from its connections at an ele- vation of 69 feet, loaded with eggs, iron, frail glassware, and a pail of water, and landed at the bottom of the shaft without the breaking of an egg or jarring of any of the con- tents of the cage. Asa life-saving appliance for eleyators it is infallible. Davip McCuasky, Prop. Kennard House. Eixtracts. We have hundreds of certificates, not only from the parties who have adopted the “ Ellithorpe Air-Cushion,” but from persons who have been present and witnessed the severe, but successtul, tests to which it has been subjected. It may, perhaps, seem superfluous to publish anything more to convince a reflecting mind of its merits; but, as a matter of in- terest, we subjoin various extracts from the Press, describing some of the thrilling tests that the Air-Cushion has been subjected to. Wherever we have publicly dropped an elevator, it has created sreat interest, and crowds of persons have been present to witness the tests. Besides, we think that many of these accounts will be read with interest, and go further toward establishing public con- - fidence in the invention than anything we can say. The following are a few extracts from leading newspapers of the country : From the Chicago Times, July 24, 1879. AN ELEVATOR MUZZLED. On yesterday afternoon, the large elevatorin the Chamber of Commerce fell from the upper floor to the bottom of the elevator passage. It contained at the time pl Ellithorpe, son of the inventor, and C. F. Hathaway, neither of whom was injured or 9 even jarred. One of them held aglass of water, none of which wasspilled. On the floor of the cab was a basket of ezgs and glassware, but not an egg shell or tumbler was broken. The occasion of the fall was the testinz of a device, of Col. A. C. Ellithorpe of this city, for preventing elevator accidents. At ths second test, the elevator was loaded with five thousand pounds of pig iron, the elevator itself weighing four thousand pounds, which was hoisted to the upper floor and again allowed t» drop—the eggs lying loose upon the floor among the pigs of iron and glassware were unbroken. Itseems as if the deadly elevator had been robbed of its terrors. From the Exposition Budget. The elevator at the Exposition was closed yesterday. The managers with their usual regard for the safety and convenience of the public, are putting in at once Elli- thorpe’s Safety Air-Cushion, similar to the one at the Grand Pacific Hotel, which saved the lives of fourteen persons a few days ago. From the Chicago Tribune. THE EXPOSITION. INTERESTING EXPERIMENT WITH ELLITHORPE’S SAFETY AIR-CUSHION. The Ellithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion was tried at the Exposition yesterday afternoon in the presence of about twenty thousand people who shuddered when the elevator fell from the top of the shaft, but cheered when the six occupants walked out safe and not at all shaken up by their tumble of 109 feet. The existence of this impor- tant invention, one which will doubtless be the means of saving thousands of lives, has been mentioned in the newspapers, but only a few people have seen it in operation until yesterday, and become thereby capable of judging of its merits. The announce- ment that the elevator would fall “‘ with living freight” attracted an immense crowd the whole north end of the building, and the galleries being crowded, nearly everything else being abandoned for the time being. The only change noticeable being an in- closure at the bottom of the shaft extending up several feet. Along towards 4 o’clock the elevator was run up to the top ofthe shaft. Init were A. C. Ellithorpe, F. T. Elli- thorpe, C. F. Hathaway, Fred. T. Adams, C. C. Coffinand John T, Brothers; their weight and that of the elevator being about 2,800 pounds. After some little delay, the tempo- rary rope attachment was cut and down came the elevator with arush, but in an in- stant the entrance door was opened and the five passengers came out smiling. As soon as they were seen the crowd began cheering, and rushed forward to feel of the men and see if they were not rubber automata. The test was satisfactory in every respect, de- monstrating what was already known, however, that accidents from falling elevators can now become an impossibility. The merits of the invention are already being recognized, Col. Ellithorpe haying within the last few days received many additional orders. From the Toledo Bee. TOOK A TUMBLE. Five persons fall 85 feet through the Prodvce Exchange elevator and sustain no injury, owing to the Ellithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion having just been attached. From the Detroit Free Press, Oct. 14, 1879. AN APPALLING TUMBLE. THE BIDDLE HOUSE ELEVATOR DROPS SIXTY FEET WITH SEVEN PASSENGERS.—A REPORTER OF THE Free Press TAKES A TUMBLE WITH THE OTHERS.—PUB- LIC TEST OF THE ELLITHORPE PATENT SAFETY AIR-CUSHION. The test was a complete success, not an egg-shell was crushed, not a glass broken. The spectators rushed from the upper floors to the bottom landing expecting to see the occupants of the cage either killed or wounded, but were agreeably disappointed. From the Detroit Hvening News, The Ellithorpe Air-Cushion on the Russel House elevator was tested this noon with the usual load of iron, wine glasses, eggs, etc., and proved a complete success. 10 The following is the certificate of the gentlemen who were in the cab at the time of the accident at the Parker House, Boston, October 7, 1879, and also Harvey D. Parker’s certificate : To Whom it May Uoncern: This is to certify that we, the undersigned, were occupants of the Parker House ele- vator when it was cut loose and let fall on the Tth of October, 1879. No concussion what- ever was experienced by us when the cab landed on the Air-Cushion, neither did we sustain the slightest injury in any way, nor suffer from any ill-effects produced by the fall of 80 feet. Signed, J.H. N. Winitams, ‘Ep. CHEVALIER. JOHN WILLIAMS, FRED. T. ADAMS, WaLpo RoBINSON. Boston, Oct. 22, 1879. Me. A. C.. ELLITHORPE: DeaR SiR—Since the application of your Safety Air-Cushion to my elevator in the Parker House, Iam thoroughly convineed of its utility and absolute necessity as a life- saving invention, and I am confident that it will be the means of saving many lives that. are constantly being sacrificed from the falling of elevator cabs. H. D. Parker, 'Proprietor. From the Cleveland Herald, Dec, 29, 1879. A LIGHT FALL. A successful experiment was made with the Ellithorpe Safety Air-Cushion on the elevator at the Kennard House, at 1 o’clock Saturday afternoon. Some two hundred prominent gentlemen of the city were present. The éleyator, with a load of eggs, water and iron was cut loose and allowed to drop sixty feet. The force of the fall was so broken by the Air-Cushion, that not even a ripple was perceptible on the surface of the water, or the slightest disturbance of the cargo. From the Cleveland Leader. A large crowd of city officials and other interested persons gathered in the City Hall, at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, to witness the workings of the Ellithorpe Safety Air_ Cushion just introduced in the elevator. A basket of eggs on bricks, and water in glass tumblers comprised the bill offareto go down. Promptly at3:15 o’clock the eab fell, sending the cage from the fourth floor to the cellar, without spilling a drop of water, or unshelling an egg, From the Pittsburg Leader, Jan. 18, 1880. A TERRIFIC ELEVATOR TUMBLE. SEVEN MEN FALL SEVENTY FEET. A public test of the Ellithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion took place yesterday after- noon and proved a perfect success, the following despatch was sent yesterday evening and explains itself: COLONEL A. C. ELLITHORPE, Chicago, Ill., Patentee: “Public test of the Ellithorpe Safety Air- Cushion to- cor at hotel Be oved a great suc- cess, am perfectly satisfied with appliance.” JOHN MCDONALD CROSSAN, Proprietor Monongahela House. From the Rochester Democrat, May 16, 1880, THE ELLITHORPE AIR-CUSHION AGAIN. SIX PERSONS DROP 112 FEET. The Ellithorpe Patent Air-Cushion for the safety of elevators is growingin public favor. Already it isin use in several of our Rochester elevators. Yesterday afternoon a party of invited guests assembled at the Lower Falls to witness the test; six persons entered il the car; Colonel A. ©. Ellithorpe, the inventor; L. 8. Graves, elevator builder; Captain Aaron Bennett, J. J. Lilley, John Harris and David Rumsey. At a quarter before 3 o’clock the ear was dropped; for the first forty feet it fell rapidly, after which it gradually lessened its speed and finally came to rest at the bottom of the well, a distance of 112 feet, in 15 seconds from the time of starting. The passengers seemed to enjoy the trip; the entertainment then closed. From the Syracuse Standard. ELLITHORPE’S SAFETY AIR-CUSHION. The test of this provision for the safety of persons in elevators in case of accidental falling, at the Syracuse Savings Bank, at 2 o’clock this afternoon, was a complete suc- cess. The car was suffered to fall 102 feet, and seven persons went down with it in per- fect safety. The test was in all respects satisfactory, and persons using elevators with this attachment need have no apprehension of serious results in case the fastenings should break and the ear be precipitated to the ground. From the Detroit Evening News. The elevator in Bissell & Miller’s new Bank Chambers Building is provided with an Ellithorpe Air-Cushion. The **Cushion” in Newberry & MeMillan’s new block is a splendid piece of work, and extends nearly the whole height of the shaft, so that the car can never drop more than a few feet, and even then very slowly. From the Detroit Sunday Herald. The eccentric conduct of the Board of Trade elevator has been the cause of a great deal of timidity among the bulls and bears. Sometimes it would take a drop of 20 or 30 feet, that would send the hearts of the occupants bulging out oftheir mouths. An Elli- thorpe Air-Cushion was put in toensure safety. On Friday it was tested by allowing the elevator with 500 pounds weight inside, and some glasses of water and some eggs to drop from the top story. It went down like a bullet, but the shock at the bottom was so light that the water was not spilled, nor the eggs broken. Now those who ride inthe elevator feel that if they fall they will have something soft to fall upon. The account of the successful dropping of the elevator in the Borden Block, at Fall River, we subjoin from several papers, on account of its being the scene of a frightful accident last April, in which two persons lost their lives and others seriously maimed by the falling of the cab some two or three stories : SAFETY ELEVATORS. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TEST OF THE ELLITHORPE AIR-CUSHION.- The Ellithorpe Air-Cushion, as applied to elevators, which was so successfully tested on the Couwrant’s elevator afew days since, had another and even more satisfactory test last Tuesday in Fall River. It was at the Borden Block, where the elevator, unprovided with the Air-Cushion, fell about three months ago, resulting in loss of life and limb, The new elevator has the Ellithorpe Cushion, and its absolute safety is assured. In the test, the first drop was from the upper story in the Borden Block, a distance of 4734 feet. The weight of the car was 1,600 pounds. In addition to this, 500 pounds of iron were placed inside of the car,two glasses of water and several eggs, and as the balance weight to the car had been removed, the actual weight dropped was the total of these two items, or about 2,100 pounds. The rope was severed and with terrible rapidity and with a fearful crash which sounded as if the inside of the building was falling in, the car descended, raising a cloud of dust which shut out everything from sight. Noth- ing was damaged. The car was uninjured; the water in the glasses was undisturbed and unspilled and the eggs unbroken. The Fall River News, in its account of the test, continues: The experiment was a complete success, but a more exciting, and to us seemingly 12 hazardous one, was yet to be made. The elevator was again raised to the top floor, and this time, instead of iron and eggs, living freight was substituted. Mr. F. T. Ellithorpe (son of Colonel Ellithorpe, the inventor of the Cushion), A. H. Jacobs of the Narragan- sett Hotel, J. W. Pritchard of the Western Union Telegraph Office, and Mr. McGuirk, assistant reporter of the Providence Journal, took positions in the car and awaited the fearful drop. This time we stood on the lower floor and awaited the coming of the ear. There was none of the noise that was heard by those standing above, but the car moved almost as quietly asifon aregular trip. The dust, which was so thick and blinding on the preceding trip, had been completely blown out, and a very good yiew of the action ofthe ear could be obtained. When the bottom of the car reached the top of the lower. door it seemed to stop somewhat suddenly, and then to settle slowly and gradually down until it reached the bottom of the well, when its occupants stepped forth and received the congratulations of their friends. They affirm that the sensation in falling is no more unpleasant than that of riding in a railroad ear. The drop at Fall River makes the 158th time Mr. F. T. Ellithorpe has tested the Air- Cushion by himself dropping with the ear. At the Chicago Exposition he dropped 125 feet without the slightest injury to the car orto himself. The Air-Cushion is the only absolutely safe attachment for elevators yet invented. Itis always ready and cannot get out of order.—Hartford Courant, July 2, 1880. From the Boston Globe, June 30, 1880. THE ELLITHORPE ATIR-CUSHION. A successful trial of the Ellithorpe Air-Cushion was made with the Borden Bloek elevator this afternoon. Last April Messrs. Seavey & Crowley were fatally injured in the elevator. To-day the fall of the car was forty-eight feet, and it was so suecessful that eggs contained therein were not broken, and water was not spilled. From the Providence Journal, June 30, 1880. THE ELLITHORPE PATENT SAFETY AIR-CUSHION. The new safety appliance recently attached to the elevator in the Borden Block was tested this afternoon, and proved a complete success. SUCCESS OF THE ELLITHORPE ATR-CUSHION. WHAT SYRACUSE PROPERTY OWNERS SAY OF IT.—THE ENTIRE CITY ADOPTS IT. From the Syracuse Times, May 2. If the real merit and worth of an invention depends upon its adoption by sensible people, then too much credit cannct be ascribed to the Ellithorpe Safety Air-Cushion, for elevators; for it has been adopted in every elevator in Syracuse, with one exception, and it will doubtless be applied to that. In the Gray elevator, a very successful test was made on Tuesday. To-morrow afternoon the elevator in the Onondaga Savings Bank Building will be dropped at3 o’clock, and the one in Milton S. Price’s store at 4 o’clock. In the car of the latter will be seated Messrs. Harry Gray, C. H. Shattuck, Stanley and F. T, Ellithorpe. To witness this exciting descent a general invitation is extended, and it is hoped all interested will call at the hour stated. This will, itis said, be the most ex- citing fall yet seen in the city. r We cheerfully publish the following letters, which have been voluntarily furnished Messrs. Ellithorpes: Syracuse, March 24, 1880. Mr. Ellithorpe has applied his Patent Safety Air-Cushion to the elevator in the Temperance Hotel, and it gives us pleasure to state that after subjecting the appliance to the severest test of twice dropping the coach from the top of the building to the base- ment, freighted with eggs and goblets of water, standing upon the naked board floor, with th:ee persons in the coach, not an egg was broken or a drop of water spilled, nor any of the persons in the slightest manner jarred or injured. * The Air-Cushion absolutely prevents concussion, and hence ensures perfect immu- nity from danger,in case the coach of an elevator drops from any cause. We have no _ . ; a) \ 13 hesitation in saying that its life-saving qualities will make its universal application a public necessity. P. Burns, Owner. - E. T. Taxpot, Proprietor. SyRAcUSE, April 29, 1880. To Whom it May Concern: The Messrs. Ellithorpes huve constructed in one of our elevators what is known as the Ellithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushicn, for the purpose of averting danger from the falling of elevator cabs. We take great pleasure in stating that theirtests in dropping our elevator from the top to the bottom of the building, as well as every other test in our city, have been highly satisfactory, eliciting general public satisfaction. Its simplicity and the natural laws which control its action, cannot fail to be effective. Asalife-saving invention its general adoption will become a necessity. D. McCartuy & Sons. ONONDAGA County Savines Bank, Syracuse, N. Y., July 6, 1880. To the Public: The introduction of the Ellithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion to elevators is, in our opinion, of the greatest importance for the preservation of life and limb, as the follow- ing will demonstrate. The elevator car in the Onondaga County Savings Bank was: dropped twice. At the first test 500 pounds of nails, glasses filled with water, and one dozen of eggs fell in the cab from the top to the bottom of the shaft, without disturbing the water, or damaging the car. At the second test two gentlemen took seats in the car and dropped a distance of nearly sixty feet, without the slightest inconvenience to either. The introduction of the Ellithorpe Air-Cushion should be general for the safety of the public. Respectfully, D. P. Woop, President. CouURANT OFFICE, HARTFORD, CoNN., July 6, 1880. We haye applied to the passenger elevator in the Courant Building the Ellithorpe Patent Air-Cushion. We deem it the only absolute safety device before the public. Mr. Ellithorpe dropped the passenger coach from the top of the building—66 feet—to the bot- tom without the slightest injury to the coach, or without spilling a single drop of water or breaking an egg, which were placed upon the floor of the eoach. No elevator should be without this safety appliance. | HAw.Ley, GoopricH & Co., Publishers Courant. ; SYRACUSE, April 28, 1880, To the Public: We took aride yesterday on our elevator and fell seventy feet and did not spilla glass of water, or break an egg of the two dozen placed among old ironinabox. Mr. F T. Eilithorpe and myself did not experience the slightest particle of jar or concussion atthe bottom. The Ellithorpe Safety Air-Cushion had just been applied to our elevator which accounts for our safety in making the fall. The Air-Cushion is an absolute safety in case an elevator should from any cause fall. GRAY BROTHERS. OFFICE OF NEWBERRY & McMituan, Drerrort, July 9, 1880. To the Public: After witnessing the perfect working of the Ellithorpe Safety Air-Cushion at the Board of Trade building in this city, we have applied same to the elevator in the New- berry & MeMillan building, feeling assured that no accident can occur from the fall of elevator car, we cheerfully commend its application to all elevators. Respectfully, NEWBERRY & McMILuan. ; { OFrice oF MILLER & BISSELL, DETROIT, July 9, 1880. To the Public: ® We have adopted the Ellithorpe Patent Safety Air-Cushion to the elevator in the Bank Chambers building, believing it to be all that is claimed for it by the inventor. Respectfully, MILLER & BISSELL. 14 Perhaps it might be considered presumptuous to even refer to the liability of elevator owners, and their duties as to the exer- cise of due diligence in seeking the greatest possible safety in the running of elevators. But when it is understood that it is done, not in a spirit of menace, but for the common good of all concerned, we think the public will commend any reasonable allusion in this direction. That proper precaution, and due diligence, is obligatory upon every individual who owns or operates an elevator, 1s apparent, from the fact that numerous decisions of our higher courts have established this fact; and in nearly every State in the Union puni- tive laws are pointed and equally emphatic. Wherever safety to the public can be secured—especially while in transit—by any publicly known device, and such device is within reach, or at the command, of the carrier or operator, they will be bound to take notice of its efficiency. : If it is a demonstrated fact that the Law of Gravity can be neutralized in the falling of an elevator cab, by opposing the Law, of Atmospheric resistance, then the invention becomes a necessity, and ordinary prudence will seek its universal adoption. Blah, oo for the door to pocket back when open. “weights inside” the same shaft with the car, the wall should be -. TO ARCHITECTS. ss - eee a The safety of elevators does not depend alone upon the mai ufacturer ofthe elevator, but its us largely epends upon the the doors. The shait to Seay an elevator should always be structed from four to six inches larger upon each side than t bottom of the car. This gives ample room to properly adjus guide posts. All doors senld be made to slide as nearly | fl with the inside of the shaft as possible, leaving a recess in the Whenever it becomes necessary to run the counter-balance Boslcoted to receive the same with sufficient room to erect substan- ae fastened. Whenever the shaft is built of wood, the siuddine shoud not less than 2x6, and 12 inches from centres, well and | bridged, the corners well tied together. _ The openings or doors to the shaft upon each ficbe may : of any size desirable— jiny’e doors are preferable, as they leay more natural strength to the shaft. Whenever it can be done, the counter-balance weights ea ves be run outside of the elevator shaft. The numerous serious acci-_ dents resulting from the fall of counter- weights dictates a change in this respect. Sj All elevator shafts should extend through the roof and be 9. lighted from the top. All projections, in the shea of door-sillsor pipes, into the shaft should be avoided ; they are always elements — of danger. In fine, the inside of the shaft should ke as ee and smooth as possible. make the application of the ‘“ Air-Cushion E ai aa F expense. ‘