The Elevator Preservation Blog

Old Elevators In Danger of Extinction

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Hi – I run a 19th century former textile mill in New York State which is now a mix of art and industrial tenants, and we also operate a non-profit art center.  We have 5 antique freight elevators which continue to function well and are used daily by our tenants.  They are maintained monthly and inspected annually.  However, the municipality in which we are located is suddenly requiring that they meet all of today’s current codes.  We are in danger of losing them.
 
We are searching either for attorneys or consultants having knowledge of the applicability of the codes to antique elevators.  My search led me to your blog.  Are there individuals out there who might be able to help us with this matter?  Time is of the essence so I would appreciate very much any help you can lend.
Thank you!!
 
Robin E. Rosenberg
President
Garnerville Arts & Industrial Center
www.garnervillearts.com

Elevator Pres. Response

Hi Robin, this is a tough situation that many who have older elevators are currently facing. Unfortunately there are parts of the code that truly should be adhered to to ensure the safety of everyone who uses these older elevators, however it seems that elevators that were installed many years ago may be grandfathered and not required to meet the current codes. The A17.3 Elevator Code addresses existing elevators and what are safety improvements if an upgrade is to be done. You don’t want anyone getting hurt on your existing elevator, that’s the key. Dangerous elevators will kill people and you should adhere what your inspector and elevator contractor are recommending for safety upgrades.
 
My advice to you is to ask your elevator company whether this “new” requirement to bring your elevator up to current code is a State of NY requirement or your local city. Many building owners simply don’t have the finances to cover such upgrades. You might even want to contact your local AHJ or elevator inspection body to see what the regulations are.
 
There are some excellent elevator consultants out there that might be worth hiring to assist with your older elevator problem and we’d be happy to assist with providing some contacts for you. Another route that has helped with other cities is to contact your local legislator who covers your district and meet with them. Sometimes variances, due to age of building, can be accommodated as well as for historic preservation. But you’ll need to see what he or she says.
 
I hope this has been helpful and wish you luck with your project. I hope that you’re not required to bring your elevator up to the current code as it is expensive and the building will loose a bit of it’s character. New elevators today have a life span of 10-20 years. The one you have and those from the 1920’s and 1930’s can run for another 50 years.  If you have photos we’d love to show them online.

Tags: elevator extinction
Posted in Elevators - 1900-1930 | 3 Comments

Great Antique Elevator Pieces

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

I love these e-mails and the photographs that are attached. The car switch photograph is pretty rare in my opinion. Never have I seen one with the markings that this one had. If you’re reading this post and would like to share a photo gallery of your collection, send it over to elevatorpreservation@gmail.com and if you’ve got some history behind the pieces that’s what makes them special. Great e-mail Jennifer, thank you so much for sharing. If anyone has information on these items please share them in the comments section below.

My name is Jennifer and my father has been in the elevator industry for over 40 years. He recently went through some of his things and he gave me some stuff. He did not have a lot of information about where they came from or what age they were but they seem to be some really interesting pieces. I would appreciate any information that you could give my regarding the age of any of the items and also what materials they may be made of. I tried to take pictures so that you could see the details and also included a yardstick so that you would know what size these items were.

Tags: lantern, pushbutton plate, rare car switch cover
Posted in Elevators - 1900-1930 | 6 Comments

Great Elevator Americana!

Friday, September 24th, 2010

It is awesome when we get these kinds of e-mails. This one came from Rob who has some great old elevator castings. What makes the photo’s even cooler is the fact that Rob has the history that goes along with them.

 Rob Piron - The half moon dial has been made into a clock using a thrush bearing gauge. It was apparently created as a “42 years of service” award for a retiring G.E. employee credited with inventing a “hydraulic floor indicator” device. The year of retirement is indicated as 1968, but the dial appears older than that – not sure though.

The switch is salvage of unknown origin. I refinished and mounted it on a pole stand. I have another switch buried in my barn similar in style to the Nissen Building variety posted on your site. Again, note sure of the vintages of either of these styles, but I’m curious which style pre-dates which. I was told the Otis globe logo with the “wreath” pre-dates logos without, but haven’t been able to confirm this. 

The brass ID plate came out the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary, Portland, Maine. The car it was removed from was the original installation from 1892; birdcage style cab driven by an electric basement drum machine.

Ideally I would like to ID exact dates on the Otis items; I’m sure that’s a stretch though. They all do have part numbers, so I was curious if dating is possible with these data.

The last pics are for fun; Here is a great pair of extant c 1911 Otis’s located in the Triangle Lodge building in Portland, Maine. They are the last manual passenger elevators in the City.

Tom, thanks for your help. I’ve been an armchair admirer of early building systems since I was a kid and it’s great to see sites like yours breathing new life into these marvels of the past.

Thanks again,

Rob Piron

Pat Carrajat was nice enough to help with identifying some of these pieces.

• The half moon is typical for the period between 1890-1940, no way to identify exact dates unless there is date or a casting number. Some casting numbers can be cross referenced by Otis, this vintage woulb often have 2-4 numbers followed by 1-2 letters followed oby 1-2 numbers
• (i.e. 147TA2 which is a hall button cover or 1898-12 also a button cover. The 1898 does not refer to the year.
• The car switch cover & handle appears to be a type “O”, I should have a parts leaflet and will check. If it’s a “O” it was produced sometime in the 1930’s in all likelihood.
• The capacity plate cannot be dated, the style speaks to me as being early 1900’s or late 1800’s.

Thanks Rob again for sharing not only your photographs of early americana elevator pieces but for also including the history behind them!

If you would like to comment on this post please do so in the comments section below.

Tom Sybert
www.elevatorpreservation.com

Posted in Elevators - 1900-1930, Elevators - 1931-1950, Elevators - Pre 1900's | No Comments

Antique Elevator Wanted For 1898 Home

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Jim is looking for an Antique Elevator for his home.

I am looking for an antique elevator for use in a large older home renovation project.  I would appreciate any help finding one.
Thanks
Jim
iamthepa@hotmail.com

After contacting Jim to ask him permission to share his e-mail he later shared the following.

Tom, Thanks… yes, posting would be fine… we are in the process of purchasing a large older home in need of repairs and we are planning on adding an additional 2000+  square feet.  The elevator would be located in the new addition.  It will go from the basement to to third floor ball room.  New, would be fine, but old would be better.  The home was built in about 1898 and currently has just over 10,000 feet without counting the basement.  I have been told that antique elevators are out there, just have to be lucky enough to find them.

Help Jim by sharing your thoughts in the comments section below.

Tags: antique elevator wanted for 1898 home
Posted in Elevators - 1900-1930, Elevators - Pre 1900's | 3 Comments

Butler Indicator or Elevator Indicator?

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

I’ve seen these before, mostly noted as elevator indicators but they seem to complicated to have worked with the types of elevator controllers that were built back around the 1900’s. This one noted to be either a butlers station or elevator indicator posts a date of 1882 which is a long time ago.

Have some information on how these might have worked? Comment below!

Tags: arrow indicator, butler station
Posted in Elevators - 1900-1930, Elevators - Pre 1900's | 3 Comments