The Triumphal Arch elevator:
The choice of the site didn't endure any hesitation. There was only one free pillar: two contained stairs, a third received the water descent. In a circular well of 3 meters a 38 meters height, without exit, it was necessary to succeed in, without touching at the building, and especially to the roof, a tight masterpiece of flagstones. In 1918 the well deepening was considered. It was executed a hard work by the hand hammer in the Vigneux bases of calcareous stone, which its elastic nature resisting all the pneumatic drills. The driving force is taking to the Place de l’Etoile subway substation, which provides the continuous current of 550 volts, didn’t requiring any transformation. The Fine arts administration put to travellers all possible conditions of security and of exit in case of stop during the journey. Even a hand winch is a special order to the firemen puts thus the traveller safe from any prolonged stop.
Here some numbers:
Power: 20 people (1 500 kg).
Speed: 2, 20 m per second.
Race: 38 m.
Strength: 50 HP.
Finally, an auxiliary maneuver analogous to the operation’s former ropes of the first elevators, permits, by a motor of 3 HP nourished by the light current, a march of 10 cm per second permitting an accidental evacuation. This elevator, which has a French realization provided of all requisite precautions, is in service since 1929 without the least incident