Our BLUME. is home to a special “technical relic”: a historic elevator that was commissioned by Franz and Mathilde Borsinger-Müller in 1897/1898. It is a hydraulically operated elevator from the well-known company Schindler Aufzüge. Although the cabin was completely renovated in 1948, some of the original cast-iron elements have been preserved.
But is this elevator really the famous Schindler elevator number 2 and therefore the oldest elevator in Switzerland?
The introduction of elevators in Switzerland
In Switzerland, the first elevators were installed in hotels in western Switzerland and around Bern in the 1870s and 1880s. At this time, hydraulic elevator systems became established and remained widespread until the beginning of the 20th century, despite the advent of electricity.
Electric elevators were only introduced in Swiss hotels shortly before the First World War. This technology enabled hotels to construct higher buildings and make rooms on the upper floors more attractive. The technical innovation also brought with it new professions, such as the lift boy, who was replaced at the Hotel BLUME. in the 1920s by a hall apprentice who also looked after the elevator.
Safety aspects of elevators at that time
The early elevators did not have the sophisticated safety systems of today, which led to some tragic accidents. Reports from that time tell of accidents in which people were seriously injured or even lost their lives. In 1878, for example, there was a serious accident involving an Edoux elevator in Paris in which three people died; and in 1881, six people fell from a hotel elevator into the basement in New York.
No such incidents are known at Hotel BLUME.
Origins and myth of the Schindler elevator at BLUME.
The Schindler elevator in the BLUME. Baden was long known as Schindler No. 2 and was considered to be the oldest Schindler elevator in the world. However, the documentation that could prove the exact elevator type and year of construction is missing. A newspaper article from 2007 dated the construction of the elevator to 1874, but this later turned out to be incorrect. In fact, the elevator was only installed by Schindler between 1897 and 1898. The numbering is therefore probably incorrect, as Schindler had already produced many elevators at this time.
The discrepancy about the exact origin of the elevator has no influence on the popularity and history of the Schindler elevator in the BLUME. Baden, however. The elevator cabin and control system, which have been in operation for around 70 years, continue to be a fascinating attraction. The supporting structure of the elevator, which is even older and comes from the original elevator, fascinates visitors on guided tours through the historic facilities of our hotel.
Despite the lack of documentation, the legend of the Schindler elevator remains alive in the BLUME. and its role as a historic relic within the hotel is emphasized by the BLUME. team and city guides alike.
