About Brooks Stair lifts
Around 1972, Mr. Frederick Brooks designed his first stair lift for his wife Grace, when she started to find stairs just too difficult because of her rheumatoid arthritis.
Thus the first Brooks stair lift was born!
Using high standards of engineering, quality and style gained from his background as an engineer for Daimler, Brooks attracted much attention. Word soon spread, and before long people with mobility difficulties and health professionals from all over Britain were calling on Fred Brooks to commission their own stair lift.
The Fred Brooks Stair lift Company was formed in 1973 in Camberley, Surrey, following growing interest in the invention, particularly from local councils. The first lift was called the Mk1.
The MkII came out around 1975. At this time, production was split between Lincoln, where the motors were assembled, and Camberley, where the rest was made. The first two models featured a motor at the top of the stairs which pulled the chair up by a nylon rope!
Around 1977 came the Deluxe: the first Brooks lift to be wire rope hauled. In 1979, the first British Standard for stair lifts was issued to avoid our industry getting a poor safety record following a number of accidents; this was successfully incorporated into their work.
Around 1980, growth was such that it made economic sense to consolidate production, and the first dedicated factory unit was set up at Nash Lane in Lincoln. In line with this came the Premier - a basic stair lift, very slim line and with a fixed rather than swivel seat - and the Elite, with a swivel seat. Both featured essential safety features to comply with the new British Standard.
In about 1987, Brooks launched the Supreme, the first Brooks lift to carry the motor on the chassis as all conventional stair lifts do today. The Supreme was also the first chain-driven Brooks lift. Business was booming and Brooks moved to the well-known Westminster site in North Hykeham at this time.
The current British standard BS5776 came into force in 1996 and to comply with this, in 1997 Brooks developed the Lincoln. It was originally an AC lift, and for its last year of production (2001) was available with battery (DC) power.
During 2001, the 'New' Lincoln was developed combining the benefits of new technologies and improved reliability with the traditional appearance and functionality of the original Lincoln. Sadly, it was no longer viable to run the operation in Lincoln and in the latter part of 2001, the business relocated to West Yorkshire.
Brooks have had over 30 years' experience of manufacturing stair lifts and you can benefit from that experience by dealing direct with Brooks Stair lifts.
