The American Elevator

The American Elevator. The Industrial Heritage Trail. , Image Source: Historic American Engineering Record. Jet Lowe, photographer, 1985. , The American Elevator was the first reinforced concrete grain elevator built on Buffalo's waterfront. It was designed and built by the James Stewart Company for the American Malting Company in 1906. It was constructed using slip form construction method. Slip form construction is performed by continuously pouring concrete into a form as it is slowly raised. Herry Wait desgned an addition to the American Elevator in 1933. , The elevator was used to support malt production for beer until 1921, when the elevator and its owner fell victim to Prohibition. The elevator was then purchased by the Russell-Miller company and used to supply wheat for their new flour mill. In 1954, the Peavey Corporation purchased the elevator and mill. They retained control until 1982, when the elevator was acquired by ConAgra. , The elevator has two marine legs; one stationary and one moveable. The original leg featured a rope driven power tranmission system, an example of a once important, little known system that is now obsolete.