Early escalator. Historical artwork of the design of a proposed 19th-century escalator. This early design used a non-stepped walkway, like that of a travelator. This artwork dates from 1894. The first escalator was built in 1897 in the USA, but designs had been developed earlier, including an 1892 patent by Charles A. Wheeler. The details of the design (left) show the inclined walkway (bottom) and the handrail (top) revolving around pulleys at the top and bottom of the escalator. Artwork from The Picture Magazine (volume 111, London, 1894).