biography
| name: |
Otis, Charles R(ollin)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1835–1927)
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| biography:
| Manufacturer, born in Troy, New York, USA. Working with his father, Elisha Otis, he persuaded him to open his own elevator factory to capitalize on Elisha's crucial inventions. After Elisha's death (1861), Charles continued inventing and patenting improvements at the Yonkers elevator factory, while his brother Norton P(rentiss) (1840–1905) worked in sales. Otis Brothers & Co was organized in 1864 with Charles as president and Norton as treasurer. In 1890 Charles retired to travel and Norton assumed the presidency, and the company consolidated to Otis Elevator Co (1898). The brothers accumulated more than 30 patents and installed steam elevators in the Washington Monument (1880) and the Eiffel Tower and installed the first electric elevator in New York City (1889). Norton (born in Halifax, VT), was active in civic affairs and served two terms in the US House of Representatives (Republican, New York, 1901–3, 1905–7). |
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