Behind the scenes look at a 1954 OTIS elevator (Elevator ride machine room tour and car top ride)
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- čas přidán 24. 12. 2017
- MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! I hope you enjoy this rare look at an antique elevator from 1954. DISCLAIMER! DO NOT ATTEMPT what you see in this video. THE PURPOSE of this video is for you to get a behind the scenes look at a piece of history that is in danger of being replaced. It was conducted under proper clearances. If you do attempt what you see you can be injured, killed, cause property damage or face legal consequences. Also this elevator had no cartop controls so that alone makes it more dangerous. DO NOT ATTEMPT. I do this because I had proper clearances and so you don't have to. CONNECT WITH ME!
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#Lift CONNECT WITH ME!
Facebook: / dieselducy
Website: www.elevatorfan.com
Flickr: flickr.com/dieselducy
Instagram: / dieselducy
Twitter: / dieselducy
DieselDucy Elevator Shirts and stuff! www.cafepress.com/elevator
Help support elevaTOURS!
/ dieselducy
#Elevator
#Lift - Zábava
"And please do not try this at home".
Don't worry. I don't happen to have a 1954 Otis elevator at home.
DO NOT ATTEMT!!!!!
I happen to have a *1955* Otis elevator at my house, so I should be able to try this, ya know, since it’s not a *1954* elevator.
This was a joke btw, I don’t have a 1955 Otis elevator at my house. Wish I did though.
1954.9
These older elevators truly are works of art! I'm glad that there are people out there who are documenting them in this much detail.
Yes. That is my purpose. It is a shame i am facing such negative feedback from some in the elevator industry. There is nothing illegal about what was done in this video. If somebody owns an elevator and wants to let me see behind the scenes it is no different that a friend letting me look under the hood of his car. If you own something, you can do as you please with it.
😭😒 👈😂😂😂
I had no idea the components of an elevator lasted this long. That’s a testament to the manufacturing of that era!
The beauty of old mechanical systems vs electronic systems right now. I’m pretty sure fridges from that same year still run perfectly.
I work at Otis Brasil and do maintenance in a building that has this model of elevator .... It works very well
Qual cidade/estado?
I was born in 1954, I remember elevator rides when I was a kid. Many had rich wood panelling, gave the car a distinct smell.
That electromechanical relay logic is awesome, just coils and contacts.
I had no idea this was a hobby that existed. This is the coolest thing EVER. I mean, I have a severe phobia of heights so this terrifies me to the core, but I love watching it. Thanks for sharing, this is awesome!
it use to be a great job until the guys f--ked it up
effluviah , Please do not worry it is not a Hobby . I was paid to ride on the top of elevators and have training ( decades ago ) . Fear of heights , Hoist ways are really dark so you can not see down . He did a good video and used a lot of light for good images . Most of the ones I rode on had car top control . I have had a ride on top of a fast express Car at Normal fast speed , It is not as fun as it sounds . The Hoist way is a dark ,very dusty place with a lot of moving things Whipping past . Yes it is a dangerous place and DieselDucy gave us a nice look and I thank him . It is not like it is shown in the action movies . And yes Dave my co worker was missing a finger .
Elevators are a lot safer than people imagine. Escalators are much more dangerous. Elevators hurt elevator mechanics. Escalators hurt everyone. An elevator can turn into an alligator in a tenth f a second. So be careful. But generally speaking they are harmless outside of getting stuck with people inside.
Ed Hagerty please stop I’m going to a mall with a lot of escalators 😭😭
That controller room with all those relays simply amazes me it's so old, but still working fine
'do not do this at home'
because everyone has an elevator in their house 😂
PotatoLift1 I wish I had one in my house 😂
my aunt has an elevator in her home
PAelevators lucky :) 😁 😂 FRIRND
PAelevators apartment?
PotatoLift1 No my cousin is in a wheelchair it’s in her house
With the lights off in the control room it looks like the fourth of July with the contactors opening and closing when in operation on the older units.
I did not try anything I saw in this video, which means not taking an elevator normally. So I took the stairs to the 40th floor instead....
Well, That was probably hard but at least you made it? Wait... Did you make it????
That must've been tiring but in the end I guess it was worth it
Nice! Depending on where this is, my Grandpa very well could have installed it new back in 1954. Cool to see some of the same type of stuff he would’ve seen.
I work maintenance in an old hospital built in 1928 that's had buildings added to it over the years. It has some *really* old cars and motors that have been since cut grounded and walled off on floors but I still see lights on from the motor room looking down. Someone is still paying that electric bill 😂
Ultimately, the patients are paying it.
There is an old hospital where I live (and i work at it sometimes) that was built in the era of “let’s put an elevator wherever so they can wall it off in 50 years” (about 1940’s)and they still run...don’t know who is riding them or paying for the power to an elevator thats not accessible to anyone but those who know it’s behind a brick wall or in a locked room but someone is moving them(they are crazy noisy,the whole building shakes when they move,staff are the only ones who know and say” someone’s playing in the old elevators again”) crazy but true...😳
NikkiAmelia RS wow 😯
- given the age of the building definitely creepy...one of them is behind a wall in our med room and we constantly hear it moving...you can actually still access that one in the basement (behind a locked door mind you)but it doesn’t go anywhere(walled off on other floors) so idk the ghosts are joyriding it I guess
How long! This elevator has been for 82 years! Otis made A great Job in making this elevator working for 82 years!
It is amazing.
Old American iron. So when the thing finally breaks they will repair it with Chinese parts that will break within the first 5 minutes.
Да . Это немного менее прочно чем АК47. Очень очень немного. )))
??
This is very true
This was a wonderful trip... Thank you for this video. And I agree that this unit is beautiful. Even at 60+ years old, it seems very well designed and built. Sturdy. I remember ones like this in hospitals back in the day. It always bugged me when the indicators were burnt out.
Worked on that type of machine many years for Otis service in London England and so did my family alll the way back to the 1930s
That was some awesome relay action bruh
I did my apprenticeship as a fitter/machinist at Otis in their Bankstown factory (1964-1969). Those relays were not so awesome after you had machined thousands of component parts for what seemed an eternity. It was interesting to to see some of the other machinery that was involved in the working of the lift. Sadly Otis no longer manufacture lifts in Australia anymore.
Merry Christmas! Wow, it’s awesome to be able to see on top of a old Otis elevator!
That was really cool. I've always wanted to see the workings of an elevator and the shaft! Thanks.
I’ve worked on hundreds of elevators, including under slung. But this is a very unique elevator. Changing the cables would be very difficult.
Thanks for the video! Oldest elevator I think I have been in was at the old VA hospital in Houston back in the 80s as a kid, the hospital was built in the 30s. The elevators were creepy and rough to ride in. They tore the building down in the early 90s after a new building was built.
I used to love looking after the old Otis 2 speed AC's and the UMV's. Still have enough selector parts in my shed to rebuild one :-)
"An undisclosed location." Sure. We all know MIT's elevator shafts, dude.
uh I dont.
Yeah me neither lol
Yeah me either
Me too
Well so far that makes four! Four smart asses! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
That is the same model (apart from no lift chooser) to my private 60s Otis lifts. The only differences are that this one still has its doors and buttons. My ones had buttons replaced with Dewhurst and the doors replaced with GAL. My private 60s Otis lifts were so fun, until they were murdered by the building owner. The building was abandoned and about to be demolished. When the building owner realised I was going there to play with the lifts he decided to cut the cables and crash them. I really miss my private Otis lifts.
He cut the cables?
What the hell is a lift chooser? 48 years in the lift trade and i have never heard this term, can you please enlighten me.
The dispatcher
Thank you, lets call it the dispatch system in future shall we to save any confusion for the non lift lift fraternity and those people who would like to know about lift relay systems and their complexities.
Beno Li
Last year I wouldn't have known what any of that machinery is. I'm an electrician for a shipyard that builds ships for the Navy and I've been working on cargo elevators aboard an LHA. It's really fascinating stuff. You have a pretty cool job
What a delight to come across your video. I have wondered what such an experience would be like since exploring old buildings in Long Beach as a child. Thank you for answers to so many questions!!!
Awesome elevator! I love vintage elevators. Especially because of the relays and the build quality being fantastic. Please make more of these videos (if you’re alright to do so)
I was very impressed with the quality of the elevator. A bit unnerving with no car top controls but this elevator is a true piece of American pride and beauty. I love going behind the scenes on elevators and will do so every legit chance I get.
Installed when I was 2 years old. Unlike a lot of much newer elevators, this one has been well maintained.
You ever make it to Portland and I'll show you a fine pair of 1965 Otis machines.
“Don’t try this at home”
Don’t worry, I have no 1954 OTIS at home.
That thing was sure well maintained.
Thanks for the tour.
Thank you for taking me to a place that I would never be. Love it!
I've seen a machine room before and a car top!
Ive always wanted to do this
Your intro + home theatre + dolby digital surround = paradise
I saw the counter weight inside during your car top ride.
Therefore Dieselducy, I know the law of not attempting to enter an elevator shaft especially if very dangerous! I appreciate your warnings and keep up the good work with your amazing elevator tours! 😉
Awesome trip around a well preserved relic and it's still working perfectly after all this time 😊
All very interesting but those open relays are something else! Love the light show when they operate and it must look spectacular in the dark!
Greetings from the UK!
They really didn't change the technology much, year by year. A 1970 one I was familiar with looked nearly identical, all relays, no electronics.
We had one like this (double door; front and back) in the public library at Kingsport, TN. You could hear the relay switches clacking.
This is the channel we need more of. Keep it up! Been watching since 2004!
Awesome! You're quite lucky to have the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at a historical beauty!
Solid, rugged, reliable; interesting. CZcams will now add this to my interests and for the next few weeks I will be bombarded with elevator videos. Next month's 'fascinating insights' will probably be the underside workings of an airport travelator :-)
dude i really appreciate your love for elevators
Way cool. The only time I was on top of an elevator car was when I got stuck in one and they had to take me out the top.
Remember my, "back when men were men," comment a few years back? It once again applies here. That tiny extra space for a machine room is necessary. I'm watching this in July of 2020 and I'm simply in awe at the smoothness, efficiency, speediness, and reliability of this elevator. Wow! Cheers to Otis in the fifties! Awesome video, Andrew!
Sadly this elevators future is uncertain as the building has been sold and the new owners have not done anything with it. Thanks for watching Alex. So nice to see your comment
I manually operated a hotel elevator in 1955 (to subsist in my senior high school year). Never thought about what company manufactured it at the time but I do know now that it allowed the elevator to go beyond the basement floor and shut down automatically. The manager took me up to the roof, entered the shed and pushed a relay or something that allowed the elevator to once again be operable.
I'm impressed by the "logic" of the lift momentarily inverting the direction of the motor when reaching the floors before finally stopping. I wonder what is that for?
to level the elevator with the floor 🤦♂️
Great stuff.. Always wanted to see inside a liftshaft and the control gear. Thanks for sharing 😎👍
been there, done that, many times. odis was my first. have ridden the tops others as well. i remember a up/down control box on top of the car.
I remember back then there were operators on them ,worked with a wheel also a gate they closed
An absolutely stunning video. You seem to have been in good hands with Sebastian on site. ;)
I'm pleased you video at 60 frames per second, so much easier on the eyes than 30 or 25 as with most videos here on You Tube.
This is very similar to one we have in an old part of the hospital I work at. The floor indicators are mechanical, driven off a chain or a cable of some sort.
Interesting. Going to attempt it one day. I think its cool going in old buildings that are under remodel or what ever and possibly being the first person in many years to be in side the space being worked on
Those are similar to the lifts in our centre, ours were originally fitted in the 60's by Otis
I am a Elevator maintenance technician and have 7 years experience in the installation and maintenance of elevators. At your service, Sir
Very epic relay logic I was not expecting it to be original good video! That's also very risky being on top a lift when you cant control it but you did it!
Was tempted to pull out a survey form and see what I could catch.
We’re working on modding a 1949 Otis it’s a 10UCL in September with a DCVV motor generator. The rotomatic displays are all pooched, but it has only the second O operator I’ve seen still functioning. This video would be the third, pat on the back to the maintenance person, they’re hard to keep running well.
Yours looks nice, other than being totally out of date with code compliance. Couple burned contacts in the controller, otherwise it runs about as well as you can expect a 65 year old piece of equipment.
Good video.
Hey could u please email me. Elevatorvideos at gmail dot com I would love it if u could save the car panel and the call stations for me.
Burnt out contacts on DSC relay will cause over run on door close cycle. These contacts are used fro injecting DC braking into the O operator windings to give a smooth stop . It was recommended to change these contacts at 12 month intervals.
Oldest I've worked on was an 1886 Moon. DC motor freight.
Beautiful piece of machinery, thanks for sharing!
Those relays clicking is full on ASMR I could listen to it all day haha
Glad you enjoy it! I love it too :)
Thank you for such a wonderful video! merry christmas
im so glad you enjoyed!!
There are two elevators of similar vintage (both Otis, as I recall) at the Masonic building where I am a member. The backstage elevator just got some major refurbishing after several breakdowns. I'm happy to say that this elevator is back in business and has been licensed for operation once again after a year (or maybe two) out of commission.
The "public" elevator in the front of the building has also had a couple of breakdowns lately, so I'm guessing it's next up to be refurbished.
I build and mod elevators for a living ive seen a few otis elevators like this one. Pretty cool to see how the old timers installed equipment.
Beautiful vintage and historic lift.
I love your videos
My dads old condominium unit in a building built in 1913 has two elevator mechs from Otis maybe from 1968 mounted in the boiler room. There is also two large coal fired steam boilers still in place.
Our city elevator inspector took me on a top side ride along....much more modern machine, but still interesting!
That setup is identical to the elevator at Rosslyn metro that you filmed (2:1, machine on the right). Kinda sad to see that one go, but it definitely needed replacement. Metro still has plenty of interesting bottom drive elevators, particularly on the Western leg of the red line.
I love bottom drive elevators. Lots of character
Nice! Never knew you did this too. I remember this 1.
Those cams coming into each floor are super overkill, but really cool! Wonder if those were made on site or designed by Otis
5:19 Where did this creepy voice come from???I think it says
"I want floor for the elevator" or something like that.It's so scary and i wonder why i found only one comment about this and no one payd attention.Didn't you hear it?It sounds clear.
10:39 maybe his son ? 🤦♂️
Awesome vintage lift (elevator). I love the older stuff for its technical character.
Really glad that the elevator industry is facilitating these videos with you. I wonder if they realise that their best engineers have a strong twist of autism. I have a strong belief that there's more than one type of human, and the ones that are classed as autistic are actually just optimised for technical work. Born to design, build and maintain society.
*first reply*
One of our local hospitals here has several of these. Always a fun lift.
That was more guts than I've seen in a long time. Wow. Cool video.
I love the floor selector buttons in the elevator car it's very interesting.
It was!
5 years later whatcing this and i have so many memories on this video fronm when i was 8
When I had to move out of my Loft in Brooklyn NY in 1984 I had 2 floors of sculptures and more on the top 2 floors of the 6 story building, at least 25 tons total, the electric had been cut off and I HAD to have the elevator, so I figured out a way to run the elevator up and down without power, but to get to the motor room on the roof it meant climbing up 7 flights of stairs...
I remembered reading in a 1901 building codes book that the elevators were to be counterweighted to 60% of the load, so, the motor was working harder with an empty car than one with about 1200 pounds in it!
I forget the capacity, it was an open roof freight elevator so it might have been 3500 pounds, so I loaded the car up with a little more than about 60% of that- about 2500 pounds so it wasnt balanced and would move down, and took the brakes off the drum with a pry bar and the car SLOWLY decended down the shaft. The big problem was looking down 7 floors thru a grating and trying to tell when the car was about even with the ground floor in the dark shaft, I tried a flashlight laid on the floor etc but I could be several inches off and that eliminated being able to just roll the load out on the platform truck I had, so I wound up double loading/unloading everything.
With the empty car the counter weight brought the car up.
I dont remember how many cycles I had to do with the 7 flights of stairs too, it may have been as many as 20 loads, but it was a real pain in the ass and I was exhausted, but that little bit of knowlege i n that 1901 book was what made it all possible!
a buddy of mine worked at Otis . . . till he got the shaft!
. . . job shaft!
. . . wasn't funny to him... at the time...
Hey I just got the shaft from Otis, terrible company to work for 👍
@@ihatenuggets ah, the tiny tim award, got that myself couple of times, best of luck
RIP your friend
When I was the little kids age I was riding car tops with my father :)
Pretty neat, very similar stuff to traction systems now just with way less safety. Me and the team I work for pulled 6 ropes on a 12 story building in the university of Florida… all 4 cars 24 ropes, thousands of feet all slung by hand
Holy cow !
Awesome video what a elevator absolute quality and built to last love the corrugated metal shaft ceiling and that awesome relay cabinet reminds me of some of the early milkfloats I’ve driven on the old milk rounds in U.K. absolutely epic
This was amazing.
Thanks for the dangers of going into unauthorized places. My friend Don Key from Otis did the nice thing by taking me up to a machine room and there is even a sticker on a ThyssenKrupp elevator pulley system stating what can happen if you put your hands on the cables. Those cables are like saws. In some places, some techs that are really nice can get in trouble for taking a visitor up to a machine room.
Thank you again for this video Diesel Ducy.
Great view of that un-upgraded 2 prong car top receptacle from the year I was born. Can't believe that as strict as the State inspectors are, that the didn't demand and upgrade on this ...
EPIC Elevator y'all with EPIC MOTOR And EPIC RELAY'S Y'ALL
Very nice elevator, and that sure was very nice of the building owner to let you ride on top of this amazing elevator. But will this elevator still be around, or will it get modernized, or will the building be torn down? But if it does get modernized or demolished, I am wondering if I could have one of the intermediate hall stations, some of the controller relays, the fan-light fixture, and whatever else could be appealing for a parts collection.
I hope it does not get modded however if it does I’ll do my best to fulfill your request
"To infinityyyyyyyyy and beyond!" - Buzz Lightyear
Merry Christmas DieselDucy.
Awesome video, great to see the purely mechanical elevators like this. Built to last.
Yes I remember that u and d buttons also being on car top at some time and the trip in travel which could be a sod .until proper test controls
Yes they fitted them at the back of the crown bar, some of them were fitted vertically and had the same type of emergency stop switch that was on the car station.
Merry Christmas Andrew!
If I owned a high-rise building with a vintage elevator I would do this all the time. Lol
Very nice elevator works like a dream edit:I’m surprised it’s still working now is a very old elevator
I wonder who made those buttons? They definitely predate SCS Elevator Products. They make buttons and brails for Otis, Thyssenkrupp, and Kone.
I was wondering ,looking at the rear wall if there were bricked up old entrances suggesting there was once an older lift here before the one installed in 1954.
I saw this too and wonder about the history.
Seen at 2:11, you can see the cables the way they are made. For anyone wishing to put their hands on them would want to think twice about it. That is because if the elevator moves, those cables will move, And if any of you grabs a hold of them while they are moving, they can cut your fingers off. And that we don't want.
Streetcar1664 when you try to act smart xD
Streetcar1664 it all depends on the elevator...if the elevator car top has a sheave where the ropes run back up then yes, but a lot of car tops have the ropes go into shackles attached at the top of the crosshead..
The only rotation would happen at the motor on top of the shaft, which you would not be able to get to unless you are in the machine room
thanks for that advice, it was exactly what going thru my mind to see what it feels like to do that, because it just looks so nice and smooth.
Good thing the older elevators are slow for a car top ride at normal operating speed.
Well, that is... unless we get the proper training and clearances too.
Happy Christmas and Father's Day!
Usually when you go into vacant locations the first things that are destroyed are the elevators, glad this one was able to stay in pristine condition.
Yeah. This place has been protected.
10:36: Your son didn't ride on top of the elevator with you, huh?
_Rewinds and analyses body language...._
Result: *Inconclusive!* 😂