The Elevator Preservation Blog

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

Antique Oak Single Person Elevator Cab Including Motor For Sale

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

You have to check this item out over on ElevatorGear.com! It’s not every day you get to see such a cool antique elevator for sale.  The actual for sale link can be found by clicking the following link  http://www.elevatorgear.com/detail.asp?id=1338

If for some reason the item is no longer posted please send the administrator at www.elevatorgear.com and they may be able to put you in contat with the seller.

Actual Post Descripton (Antique Turn of the century Single Person Elevator Cab. Solid Oak, 25 inches wide inches tall. 88 inches tall at the peak. Steel counter weight 89 inches tall. All the gears to make it work.)

Tags: antique oak elevator for sale, collapsible elevator gate, residential elevator
Posted in Elevators - 1900-1930 | 2 Comments

American Elevators Indianhead Emblem Sells For $355

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Being someone who is always on the look out for antique elevator equipment, this recent sale had me realizing that there IS a market for old elevator equipment. I’ve purchased my share of cast turn of the century (1900’s) elevator castings from both Ebay and www.ElevatorGear.com.  Having seen this piece on ebay before I’ve seen it sell for between $35 and $95 but never have I seen it sell for $355! On top of the final sale was the fact that there were 21 bids on it.

So get your old equipment out and look to sell them for free over on elevatorgear.com or on Ebay for a fee. Remember, there is a market for the collectors in the elevator industry!

Tags: american elevator emblem, ebay elevator equipment, elevatorgear equipment
Posted in Elevators - 1900-1930 | 1 Comment