Who invented the ski tow bar commonly called the T-bar in 1934?

Ernst Constam invented the T-bar ski lift in 1934.

Constam, a Swiss engineer, developed the surface lift to transport skiers uphill while they remained on their skis. The device uses a moving cable with T-shaped bars that pull one or two skiers up a slope.

The first T-bar was installed at Bolgen near Davos, Switzerland. It offered a practical alternative to carrying skis uphill or using more expensive aerial systems, and T-bars became common at ski areas around the world.

The T-bar is not the same as a platter lift or a rope tow. A platter lift supports one skier with a small disk, while a rope tow requires skiers to hold a moving rope directly.