Stepping It Up
You wouldn’t think this little household item had such an interesting origin story, but here we are. Here’s a tale of human ingenuity and a quest to reach things just out of grasp – this is the story about the humble stepladder.
The modern step stool, or stepladder as it is known today, has its roots in the simple wooden stool. A basic seat that evolved into a small ladder with multiple steps, allowing users to reach greater heights more safely.
An important moment in stepladder innovation occurred on January 7, 1862, when a master carpenter and inventor named John H. Balsley from Dayton, Ohio, received the first patent in the United States for a stepladder. While Balsley didn’t invent the concept of stepladders, his design was the first to feature hinges at the top, making it foldable and easy to carry and store.
The Great Stepladder Debate of 1879
According to an 1879 article from the New York Times titled “The Origins of the Stepladder,” the stepladder suddenly became a hotly debated topic among the scientific community. A masterpiece of hard-hitting investigative journalism, the article opens with “There is a wide difference among scientific men as to the origin of the common domestic stepladder.” It goes on to ponder the controversy of whether the stepladder is more closely related to tables and chairs or to “wild backyard ladders” (whatever those are). The conclusion? We’re “yet far from being in a position to decide this question, and for the present we must leave the scientific men to quarrel over it as they have done for many fruitless years.” That appears to be the last we heard of this debate, thankfully. Now, we can consider more important and pressing matters like whether or not a hot dog in a bun is a sandwich.
Stepladders Step Up Their Game
As we moved into the 20th century, stepladders continued to evolve. In 1950, a man named David Greene patented a step stool that incorporated a swingable seat and a step mechanism. This advancement brought us closer to the versatile multi-rung stepladders we know today.
But the fight for stepladder superiority was far from over. In fact, it was just getting started, thanks to a young inventor named Jeannie Low. While still in kindergarten, Jeannie devised an idea for the “Kiddie Stool,” a foldable step that could be mounted under a bathroom vanity. Her invention won several awards and showed that kids can be inventors too! Jeanie applied for a patent, which was granted in 1992 (#5,094,515, “Folding step for cabinet doors”).
Stepladders Today: More Than Just a Step Up
Today, stepladders come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. They’re no longer just for reaching high shelves – they’ve become versatile pieces of furniture, and in some cases, they have devolved again into sitting stools. They are undoubtedly an indispensable part of our world, from kitchens and offices to garages and classrooms.
Reflecting on the stepladder’s long and surprisingly eventful history, one can’t help but wonder what the future holds for these unassuming yet valuable products. Yes, they are the child of the towering ladder, but every bit as useful. Whatever the future may bring, one thing is certain: as long as humans need to grasp things just out of reach, step stools and stepladders will be there to help make life easier and safer.
If you’re ready to elevate your organization’s commitment to safety, step up and explore our award-winning Off The Wall® Employee Awareness posters on Ladder Safety.
To learn more about how we can help protect your employees and customers, email us at info@crewsafe.com .
Don’t let safety be out of reach – take the first step today!
Sources
- Wikipedia. Step Stool. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_stool (Accessed: August 26, 2024)
- The New York Times (1879) The Origin of the Step-Ladder. Available at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1879/10/15/81765836.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 (Accessed: August 26, 2024)
- Paper Stone (2011) Do Step Ladders Have A History? Available at: https://www.paperstone.co.uk/News/2011/do_step_ladders_have_a_history_ (Accessed: August 27, 2024)
- Google Patents, Step Stool Patent no. US2523466A. Available at: https://patents.google.com/patent/US2523466A/en (Accessed: August 27, 2024)
- Lemelson_MIT Jeannie Low, The Kiddie Stool. Available at: https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/jeannie-low (Accessed: August 28, 2024)
- Google Patents, Folding Step for Cabinet Doors Patent no. US5,094,515A. Available at: https://patents.google.com/patent/US5094515A/en?oq=5%2c094%2c515 (Accessed: August 28, 2024)
- McClard Segotta Antiques. History of Footstools. Available at: https://mcclardsegotta.com/justforfun/details.asp?action=view&iid=13 (Accessed: August 28, 2024)
- Makamuki0, Oil Wood Stool (2015). Available at https://pixabay.com/photos/stool-wood-ancient-old-fragile-981213/
- Wikipedia. John H. Balsley. Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_H._Balsley (Accessed: August 28, 2024)
- Google Patents, J.H. Balsley Step Ladder Patent no. USRE2010E. Available at: https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/bd/60/09/baa571fb19752f/USRE2010.pdf
- Google Patents, D.Greene Step Stool Patent no. 2,532,466. Available at: https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/3b/dc/c6/57a55ce4ee5a29/US2523466.pdf
- Google Patents, Folding Step For Cabinet Doors, Low patent no. 5,094,515. Available at: https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/ff/6b/49/0e0c2345005cb4/US5094515.pd