Elisha Otis By rinatubi Aug 3, 1811 Elisha Otis birth Dec 15, 1852 Invents a safety latch for hoisting equipment Dec 15, 1853 Starts a company to manufacture safe elevators. Mar 23, 1854 Demonstration of elevator Otis demonstrates the elevator at the World's Fair, Crystal Palace exposition in New York City Apr 10, 1861 after his death his sons form Otis Brothers & Company Dec 15, 1873 Impact Over 2,000 Otis elevators were in use in office buildings, hotels and department stores