The concept of a museum devoted to the artifacts of our industry has been a long time dream of mine. I began collecting the bits and pieces that form the basis for the museum's collections at age 11, working with my father changing out an old set of Elevator Supplies master interlocks. That first item spawned a lifetime obsession with the history of our business and it's amazing people. My book, The History of the American Elevator Industry 1850-2001 is available free for all our industry to share at: historyofelevatorindustry1850-2001-wq |
The Museum will move from dream to reality in June 2011 when we open our doors in Long Island City, New York. Although a modest start the space is being designed to showcase the depth of the collections. A major focal point is the collection of cast iron, bronze, brass and pot metal nameplates dating from 1861 including the first Otis Brothers crosshead plate, Mitchell of Chicago, Reedy of Cincinnati, Somerville of New York, Kimball of Iowa, Gurney of Pennsylvania, A.B. See of New York and many, many more. |