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The use of stair lifts dates back to the 16th Century.
Read more about the history of stair lifts below.
KING HENRY VIII
Believe it or not, the first recorded use in the history of stair lifts was by King Henry the VIII in the mid-1500s! Historians give an account of Henry commissioning a “chairthrone” to aid him in ascending and descending the 20 steps at Whitehall Castle. It is believed that the stairlift was human powered, using a block and tackle system borrowed from one of the King’s warships.
STAIR LIFTS IN THE U.S.A.
The earliest recorded use of a modern stair lift is in the United States. In 1923, C.C. Crispen designed a stairlift that could climb stairs for an ailing friend. He called it the Inclinator.
1930S AND 1940S
In the 1930s and 1940s two American companies began serving people’s need to “get upstairs.” The American Stair-Glide Co. began in Kansas City and the Cheney Co. in New Berlin, WI. The Wecolator Stair Lift by Cheney was a top selling stair lift for curved stairs and could be seen in popular Hollywood films including “Gremlins” and the TV series “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Other notable stairway elevator scenes were in the film “The Farmers Daughter” and a funny episode of “Seinfeld.”
Both companies were acquired by Access Industries in 1991, and besides producing residential elevators and wheelchair platform lifts, Access Industries produced a popular line of stair lifts including the Silver-Glide, Stair-Glide, the Citia, and Excel stair lift. In 1999, Access Industries was acquired by ThyssenKrupp Elevator, a German based company. Newer model stairlifts by ThyssenKrupp include the Levant, Comfort, and the Flow II stairlift for curved stairs.
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
In the United Kingdom, the Stannah Company began building elevator and lift systems in 1867. In 1975 Stannah produced their first stair lift and recently finished shipping their 500,000th stair lift in 2011. The Stannah family still owns and actively manages the business, which distributes their products worldwide. They are known for very stylish, easy to use, and extremely safe stairlifts. Current models are the Siena 600 line for straight stairs and the Starla 260 designed for stairs that have turns. Note that in Europe “stairlift” is usually one word, while in North America, it is often two words.
MANUFACTURER TO MANUFACTURER
Another British stairlift company, Acorn Stair Lifts, began business in 1992 by buying up used lifts made by other manufacturers & reselling them. They soon designed and built their own stair lift, the Acorn Superglide. Acorn entered the United States stairlift market selling their cheaply-priced Superglide through the internet and call centers direct to consumers for do-it-yourself installations. They have since moved away from the DIY market due to regulations in various states and now offer installations using a network of independent reps and company stores.
Bruno Independent Living Aids is a family-owned business started in 1984 that distributes a wide range of accessibility products worldwide. Based in Oconomowoc, WI, they are noted for vehicle lifts, turning automotive seating, and a popular US made line of stairlifts including the Electra-Ride LT, Electra-Ride II, Electra-Ride Elite, and Electra-Ride III curved rail stair lift.
Many design features in some of the earliest models are still used in newer ones today. Chair pivoting at the top of the steps and various degrees of folding ability are examples of this. Of course, many improvements and innovations have been made over the years. Installations are easier, there are more safety features built into some models, ease of use continues to improve, and in 1992, battery operation was introduced, which lowered the cost of installations and gave a much improved ride quality as well as the ability to operate during power outages. There are even units designed for outdoor use.
As always, there are differences from manufacturer to manufacturer and especially differences in the training and expertise of installing and servicing companies. We recommend you only work with a provider who offers a showroom where you can see and try the various chairs and where local service personnel are available on-call. Make sure and talk with a stair lift expert at Arrow Lift if you think a stair lift would help you or a loved one enjoy the full use of their home. We’ll help you select just the right one for your individual abilities and need.