Second floor, elevator.

During the early decades of the century, British commercial companies became very much a solid part of the Argentine economy particulary in the capital and the larger cities such as Rosario, La Plata, Córdoba, and Mendoza.

*An OTIS elevator of the 1920s*

Additionally, American and German business found good foothold in the Argentine market in various fields and by the end of the 20s many companies had branch offices in Buenos Aires and some even established sub-offices in other locations. One such company was the Otis Elevator Co. © of Yonkers, New York, U.S.A.

In 1853, Elisha Graves Otis introduced the world's first safety elevator in Yonkers, New York - changing the shape of the modern world. From that point forward, buildings could rise beyond the limitations of stairs. Cities would have skylines. From such a humble start to today where Otis elevators can be seen in over 200 countries.

Otis started its activities in Argentina in 1898. That was the year when the first elevator in the Republic was installed at 1200 Avenida De Mayo with a drum-motor, a solid hardwood main-floor facade and cabin, and a velocity of 30 meters per minute. This elevator remained in active duty until the building was demolished over 70 years after the elevator's installation. Over the years and to-date, Otis Elevator Co. has installed and maintained over 15,000 elevators in Argentina -- machines of exceptional reliability that meet the most demanding standards of residence and business.

In a later note we shall see that Corrientes, 348 was furnished-decorated by Maple & Co. and in such an environment I cannot see any elevator other than a hand-crafted Otis masterpiece.