I remember my uncle’s house had a 1940’s, folding attic stairway. It had large springs that creaked as it unfolded.
My house from the late 50’s has much lighter springs.
My mom bought a house built in 2013 and it’s attic stairs is basically the same design.
Who invented them? Which company originally sold them?
I’ve always heard them called Bessler stairs, so I’m assuming that they were invented by the Bessler Stairway Co., still in business. I’m just having a hard time finding good confirmation of that on the web.
And I recall two different styles: one with a single piece ladder section that pivoted down on rails, while the other had a two-piece ladder section that unfolded after being lowered.
I sat on a focus group that was tasked with discussing injuries involved with these kinds of stairs. Obviously, I Indicated that the stair company was guilty at every step.
They are still in business in Memphis - but they started off in Akron. They apparently still provide parts for decades old stairs.
I have seen a founding date of 1909. Here is an interesting link from a 1917 magazine.
I never heard them called Bessler stairs. Thank you for enlightening me.
I’ve used folding stairs in every house that I’ve lived in, and never knew the trade name.
They are a standard feature in most local home’s garages. People like storing stuff up there.
I had fun just scrolling and scrolling thru that looking at the ads. Came across one other ad for drop-down stairs: also Bessler. Didn’t come across any other companies selling them after looking thru quite a lot of pages. Given the multiple ads for all sorts of things, this might be telling.
Here’s the patent, I believe