The Crispen Inclinator
The first commercially successful stairlift, invented to help a friend with polio.
Manufacturer: Inclinator Company of America
About This Exhibit
In 1923, C.C. Crispen of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, changed the world of home accessibility forever. His friend, a polio survivor, struggled to navigate the stairs in his home. Crispen, an engineer by trade, set out to solve this problem.
The result was the Inclinator — an inclined platform that could carry a seated passenger up and down a straight staircase. Powered by a simple electric motor and guided by a rail system, it was elegant in its simplicity. The original design used a folding seat attached to a carriage that traveled along a track mounted to the stair treads.
Crispen founded the Inclinator Company of America to manufacture and sell his invention. The company still exists today, making it one of the oldest stairlift manufacturers in the world.
Historical Significance
The Crispen Inclinator established the fundamental design principles still used in stairlifts today: a seat, a track, and an electric motor. It proved that home accessibility could be achieved without major structural modifications.
Did You Know?
C.C. Crispen reportedly built the first prototype in his garage using parts from his workshop and a repurposed electric motor.
Technical Specifications
- Weight Capacity
- 200 lbs (estimated)
- Speed
- 15-20 feet per minute
- Track Type
- Straight rail, stair-mounted
- Power Source
- 110V AC electric motor
- Folding seat
- Manual brake
- Key lock operation
Quick Facts
- Year
- 1923
- Manufacturer
- Inclinator Company of America
- Category
- Pioneer Era