History of Stair Lifts

Believe it or not the first recorded use of a stair lift was by King Henry the VIII in the mid 1500's! Historians give an account of Henry commissioning a "chairthrone" to aid him in ascending and descending the 20 steps at Whitehall Castle. It is believed that the stair lift was human powered, using a block and tackle system borrowed from one of the King's warships.

The earliest recorded use of a modern stair lift is in the U.S. In 1923, C.C. Crispen designed a seat that could climb stairs for an ailing friend. He called it the Inclin-ator.

In the 1930's and 1940's two American companies began serving people's need to "get upstairs." The American Stair-Glide Co. began in Kansas City and the Cheney Co. in New Berlin, WI. The Wecolator Stair Lift by Cheney was a top selling stair lift for curved stairs and could be seen in popular Hollywood films including "Gremlins" and the TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies." Other notable stairway elevator scenes were in the film 'The Farmers Daughter" and a funny episode of "Seinfield."

Both companies were acquired by Access Industries in 1991, and besides producing residential elevators and wheelchair platform lifts, Access Industries produced a popular line of stair lifts including the Silver-Glide, Stair-Glide, the Citia, and Excel stair lift. In 1999 Access Industries was acquired by ThyssenKrupp Elevator, a German based company. Newer model stair lifts by ThyssenKrup include the Levant, Comfort, and the Flow II stairlift for curved stairs.

In the United Kingdom, the Stannah Company began building elevator and lift systems in 1867. In 1975 Stannah produced their first stairlift and recently finished shipping their 500,000th stairlift in 2011. The Stannah family still owns and actively manages the business which distributes their products world wide. They are know for very stylish, easy to use, and extremely safe stairlifts. Current models are the 420 line for straight stairs that have multiple chair options including the Saxon, Solus, & Sofia and the 260 chair designed for stairs that have turns. Note that in Europe stairlift is usually one word, while in North America, it is two.

Another British stairlift company, Acorn Stair Lifts, began business in 1992 by buying up used lifts made by other manufacturers & reselling them. They soon designed and built their own stair lift, the Acorn Superglide. Acorn entered the United States stair lift market by internet selling of the low priced Superglide direct to consumers for do-it-yourself installations. They have since become a fast growing stair lift company and have moved away from the DIY market and now offer nation wide installations in North America and Canada.

Bruno independent Living Aids is a family owned business started in 1984 that distributes a wide range of accessibility products worldwide. Based in Oconomowoc , WI. they are noted for vehicle lifts, turning automotive seating, and a popular US made line of stair lifts including the Electra-Ride LT, Electra-Ride II, Electra-Ride Elite, and Electra-Ride III curved rail stair lift.

Many design features in some of the earliest models are still used in newer ones today. Chair pivoting at the top of the steps and various degrees of folding ability are examples of this. Of course many improvements and innovations have been made over the years. Installations are easier, there are more safety features built into some models, ease of use continues to improve, and in 1992 battery operation was introduced which lowered the cost of installations and gave a much improved ride quality as well as the ability to operate during power outages. There are even units designed for outdoor use.

As always, there are differences from manufacturer to manufacturer and especially differences in the training and expertise of installing and servicing companies. Make sure and talk with a stair lift expert at Arrow Lift if you think a stair lift would help you or a loved one enjoy the full use of their home. We'll help you select just the right one for your individual abilities and need.

Talk to An Adviser

Our stair lift experts are standing by to answer your questions Monday thru Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time. Just dial one of the numbers at the top of this page. If you'd like us to call you at a specific time, just leave your name and number and one of our advisers will contact you. We promise to never share or sell your contact information to anyone. If you'd like literature or our stair lift DVD mailed to your home please use our request form on our Contact Us page.

Your Name*   Your Phone Number*   Your Email Address:   Time of Day You Prefer:           *Required Fields

Do It Your Self Stair Lifts

To help you make a more informed decision about owning a stair lift, here are some links to external pages that we think you may find useful. Not all stair lift suppliers are as reputable as we'd like; do your homework!

Self-installation We're constantly being asked to check out a stairlift that someone has bought 'cheap' and tried to install themselves, and there's invariably something wrong. For your safety and peace of mind we include professional installation with every stairlift. All reputable manufacturers do the same. If you'd like to read more about the subject, click the AEMA logo. Consumer-complaint sites Some stairlift suppliers seem to attract attention on consumer complaint sites. Before buying a stairlift we recommend you search for 'stairlift' on at least this site: www.ComplaintsBoard.com

How Stair Lifts Work on Straight Stairs

Stair Lift Prices
To have a stair lift installed in your home for a straight flight of stairs you can expect to spend $2,500 to as much as $6,000. Many homeowners choose a model in the $3,000 to $4,500 range.

On the upper end of the range you will find models designed to blend into your home's decor like fine furniture. They have custom color upholstery and leather fabrics, extra safety and ease of use features like one motion folding and unfolding, power seat swivel, and automatic folding rails where needed.

At the lower end of the price range you may find one of the better models available in a reconditioned version. Brand new stair lifts at the lower end of the price range can provide basic transportation up and down your stairs, but lack comfort and ease of use or safety features you may want. Of course the difference in quality and durability varies.

At whatever price point you feel comfortable with, a visit to an Arrow Lift showroom will help you choose just the right model. In the past 26 years, our experienced advisers have helped thousands of people stay in the homes they love.

Stair lift prices for stairs with landings, pie shaped steps, or curved shapes.

Stair lifts designed for straight stairs may not work for your more complex stairs. We can still help you get where you want to go! We have models available that are designed to work on nearly any type of stairs. They are typically called curved rail, or custom rail, stair lifts.

At first glance, the price for a custom made stair lift may seem like more than you wanted to spend. But they are still very affordable and convenient when you consider the cost and hassle of alternatives like packing up all your belongings and finding another place to live. They can be installed in your home in one day, and there is no construction or remodeling needed!

Custom made stair lift model prices start around $10,000 for a basic 90 degree configuration. The prices rise substantially if you want to add various options, for extra or unusual bends, and for longer travel. We've installed models that travel from the basement level of a townhouse spanning FIVE flights of stairs reaching the bedroom on the top level - all in one trip! Of course you could stop at the garage or kitchen level on the way up. Be sure and visit one of our showrooms to test ride one of these models.

Why Choose Arrow Lift?

Arrow Lift offers three ways to assist you in making the right decision about having a stair lift installed in your home - including providing accurate and complete stair lift price information.

The first and most common question we get asked by customers who call about a stair lift is, "How much is your stair lift?" People are led to ask this question because many stair lift companies only sell one brand, sometimes only one model. Other companies say they handle three or four brands, but in reality they only sell or "push" one – usually the lowest cost model. This one size fits all approach is rarely helpful to people needing assistance on stairs and who are trying to make a wise purchase decision.

The truth is, "there is no one stair lift make or model that is best for everyone!" People come in all shapes and sizes as well as ability to operate a machine safely on a stair case. In addition, stairs are built in many different configurations with obstacles to safe stair lift use at the top and lower landings.

Here's How Arrow Lift Can Help You Find Out About Stair Lift Prices And Choose A Model That Your Loved Ones Can Operate Easily, And Feel Safe And Comfortable On.

1. Test Ride Several Stair Lift Models
The best way is to actually ride several models by visiting one of our stair lift showrooms. We offer more models and brands than any one else. There are great differences between brands, and even within brands, in ease of use and safety features available. You'll get a chance first hand to compare the ease of use and safety features most important to you. If you bring along some information about your stairs and /or some digital photos of the stairway, we'll even be able to give you accurate pricing information when you visit our showroom. If this information isn't available when you visit, we can provide a follow up in home survey.

2. In Home Survey And Demonstration
If it isn't convenient for you to visit one of our showrooms, just give us a call. We'll be happy to send a sales adviser to measure your stairs. Your adviser will bring literature on all the different makes & models, answer your questions, and help you choose just the right one for your particular needs. We'll even bring along a DVD player to show you how specific stair lift models work. Arrow Lift promises no high pressure sales tactics – just information to help you make the right decision including complete cost, permits & inspections where required, plus detailed warranty information.

3. Phone Consultation
If you can provide the information requested on the Arrow Lift stair lift survey form and email some photos of your stairway, our stair lift advisers will be able to offer some suggestions on what model might be most appropriate for you or your loved one's use and provide you with stair lift cost information. Arrow Lift has installed thousands of lifts in the Mid West over the years. We provide each and every customer the personal attention and expertise each application deserves. That's how we earn the tag line on our Company logo - "ELEVATING EXCELLENCE."

SEE WHAT OUR STAIR LIFT CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT ARROW LIFT | DOWNLOAD STAIRLIFT MEASURING FORM