In 1923...

[cthulu2016]

In 1923, New York City saw 87 deaths from elevators. Oddly enough, though, only three of those deaths were from what people fear(ed) about elevators—a cable breaking and dropping the car.

About 45 of them died stepping into empty elevator shafts. Almost all the rest were crushed by the doors.

They had some serious doors back then, I guess. Hard to even imagine.

[Doc_Technical]

1. I think at that time,

most (if not all) public elevators had elevator operators.
Freight elevators were probably self operated and even
today can be very dangerous.

[cthulu2016]

3. I was thinking the same thing

Freight elevators probably contributed the most.

[B Calm]

2. Around 25 years ago I was a juror

in a week long trial where a man at work claimed the elevator he was in, suddenly fell and he suffered from back injuries. We didn't give him a dime.

[flamingdem]

4. Crap! Around then my great, great, maybe another great grandfather

was hit somehow and killed by a train/subway, they weren't sure which, in Brooklyn or NY.

I am pissed, even though I found out a hundred years later just this week.

It made me wonder about other dangers we don't deal with now.

[longship]

5. The Bugs Bunny theory of elevators.

Lots of fun from Loonie Toons with elevators and elevator shafts, mostly the latter.

Sorry, your post just brought back memories.

Ain't I a rascal?