1. The Ancient Greeks used a system of winches and pulleys with rope; and in 200 BC, the Romans used lifts operated by hundreds of men, to move gladiators and animals to the Colosseum's arena floor. Thomas Jefferson, America's 3rd president, popularized lifts. Initially, he used a different sort of "dumbwaiters" he discovered in Europe that were portable etageres on casters (pictured left). He filled the tiered shelves with food, utensils, and wine so guests could dine without the interruption of servants. The photo in the center shows the spring-loaded turning shelf Jefferson designed that enabled kitchen staff to load food, spin the shelf, and have food appear in the dining room. The photo on the right is of the lift mechanism he created that transported wine from the cellar to the dining room in his home, Monticello. Which device would you prefer to have in your home?
