World's First Transparent Escalator

Mitsubishi Electric completed development on the world's first transparent escalator (S type) in 1955. It was developed based on an idea from Sogo Co. Ltd., and the first machine was delivered to the Sogo Department Store in Osaka. The straight section of the escalator was made of tempered transparent glass, while the boarding and landing sections were fitted with white lighting. In 1956, an all-transparent escalator, including transparent boarding and landing sections, was also developed and delivered to Shirokiya Department Store in Tokyo.

**Company names, used in this article are as recorded in the Japanese language publication ''Mitsubishi Electric Corporation History of 60 Years,'' and have been translated into English for ease of comprehension.