In a stalled elevator, a mirror can make the wait feel shorter—but speed was only half the problem.
By the mid-20th century, mirrors appeared in elevator cabins as building owners searched for a cheap fix. Passengers watched their hair, faces, or shopping bags instead of the floor numbers.
That distraction mattered. Mirror panels also let wheelchair users see behind them and gave riders a view of anyone entering the cabin.
Faster motors meant costly changes to elevator shafts and cables. A sheet of glass was cheaper.