Elevator fixtures, the car-operating panel (COP) and landing push-button stations that allow passengers to choose their destinations are rarely given a second thought by today's users of elevators. However, this was not always the case. Haif a century ago, the conversion from attendant-operated elevators to self-operated elevators was still a hot topic within the industry, as evidenced by an article written by Charles W. Lerch in the first year of ELEVATOR WORLD'S existence. The founder of what became Lerch, Bates Associates, Inc., one of the world's leading elevator consulting firms, Lerch addressed the topic in "Help Yourself To Operatorless Elevators" (ELEVATOR WORLD, July 1953): Americans like to do things for themselves. Many years ago it was the cafeteria, then came the bus with no conductor followed by the street car. Later came the self-service grocery store and the self-service gasoline station, already successful in Los Angeles.
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