Upon relocating to San Francisco, Tessa McLean secured a rental house, unaware of its century-old origins. As she ascended the stairs to the second level, a peculiar lever caught her eye, its purpose shrouded in mystery.
Intrigued, she impulsively decided to test it, pulling it downward. To her astonishment, the front door swung open as if by magic.
Eager to share her discovery, Tessa posted a video of this antique marvel on her Twitter account, marveling at the inventive laziness of past inhabitants.
It dawned on her that such contraptions were once commonplace, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Families of modest means, lacking servants, employed these levers to greet guests without descending from the upper floors.
For the confused, here’s what I mean. 📹 to @David_Dreyfus pic.twitter.com/jG6K1ZGIcx
— Tessa McLean (@mcleantessa) October 21, 2020