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Escalator part; sections from the spiral elevator at Holloway Road station, 1906

Main details

Main details for this item.
Reference number
1999/876 part 0
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.
Designer
Dates
1906
Collection
Object type
  • Escalator part
Location
Topics
Completeness
100%

More stories about the spiral elevator

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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.

Construction of the spiral escalator at Holloway Road station, 1906

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Sections from the spiral elevator at Holloway Road station, 1906

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