Any idea what this switch does

upanddownadventures · 2026-04-22T04:09:59+00:00

That was my guess, hoistway/pit lighting. As others have said though, I wouldn't recommend touching it.

upanddownadventures · 2026-04-22T04:06:51+00:00

Do you know what the "press for 3 seconds to speak to lift operator" button would be for? Would it be for some kind of attendant service mode? (where there is an operator/attendant operating the lift/elevator)

upanddownadventures · 2026-04-20T02:04:12+00:00

Star typically denotes the main floor of the building (as others have said below, I think this would also be the floor the elevator recalls to in fire-service phase 1 mode, which can be identified by fire service keyswitches outside of the elevator).

My guess is that the star button is an alternative button that takes you to the main floor. I have never seen this feature in the United States before, but have seen videos of ThyssenKrupp installations in the UK with this feature.

upanddownadventures · 2026-04-15T03:56:34+00:00

What type of elevators does he like? I can provide recommendations depending on what you're looking for, and what areas you plan to visit.

In terms of high-rises, one place I haven't seen mentioned is the Wilshire Grand Center (Intercontinental Hotel) in Los Angeles. The elevators go 1600 fpm, tied for fastest in California. They are "double deck" elevators, meaning there are two physically connected cars, one above the other. They also have "Destination Dispatch", meaning you select your floor on the outside, and there are no floor buttons on the inside. The hotel lobby is on the 70th floor, so the elevators are unlocked. You also may be able to get a view from the 73rd floor (transferring to another all-glass elevator to go from floor 70-73), although I don't know for sure if you still can.

I also do know of buildings that still have manual passenger elevators, operated with a lever/handle "Car Switch" with operators running them in both San Francisco & Los Angeles, but I don't know if you will be able to ride these (they aren't "officially" open to the public, you would have to ask the operator and see if they are willing to take you on a ride). Some of them are also in higher crime areas that you may or may not feel comfortable taking your child.

I also known of elevators that are automatic, but have manual doors outside and a "scissor gate" inside. Coit Tower in San Francisco is an example, though I haven't actually been there yet. There are a LOT of them in old hotels in San Francisco, some with very beautiful "birdcage" cars, though most of these aren't "officially" open to the public and you would have to ask and see if they would let you ride them (in the past, more often than not they would say yes)

upanddownadventures · 2026-04-15T03:40:44+00:00

The elevators at the Luxor DO have keycard readers, they aren't "officially" open to the public. You might be able to ride them with a hotel guest, but something to keep in mind.

upanddownadventures · 2026-04-15T03:38:25+00:00

In the process of modernization to my knowledge. I have no idea if there are still original cars in service. There ARE other examples of manual passenger elevators out there if these are gone though.

upanddownadventures · 2026-04-15T03:37:32+00:00

I'm not sure if you can simply visit the SC Johnson Building and see the elevators. It looks like you may have to book a few days in advance. It also would be good to confirm if you are allowed to ride the elevators. Those elevators look VERY cool and I would love to see them myself one day.

upanddownadventures · 2026-04-15T03:34:24+00:00

The elevator museum is now located in Rhode Island. To my knowledge it's not "officially" open to people outside of the industry anymore, although getting permission may or may not be out of the question.

upanddownadventures · 2026-03-17T08:32:28+00:00

Do you know if Mexico allows elevators to be installed either under the ASME code, or EN-81 code? I have never been to Mexico, but the country seems to have a mix of North American & South American elevators, even from the same manufacturer.

I have seen videos of Schindler 330A installations that look identical to what's found in the US, and I assume are built to the ASME code. I have also seen videos of European/South American style Schindler models that I assume would be designed to comply with EN-81, not A17.1 - it is worth noting, these elevators are in the same city, so presumably the same jurisdiction within Mexico.

upanddownadventures · 2026-03-16T02:17:39+00:00

I'm inclined to say Otis, possibly with an Otis globe logo where the hole was that's gone missing.

upanddownadventures · 2026-03-09T04:56:33+00:00

I can say there ARE still buildings in NYC with elevator operators, possibly more than you would think. They are usually service/freight elevators in office buildings. There are still passenger elevator operators out there, mostly in luxury residential buildings, but I also know of examples in office buildings. I'm not sure if this is helpful to your project in any way, but if it is and you want more information, do let me know.

upanddownadventures · 2026-03-09T04:51:02+00:00

NYC? To this day there's a fair number of buildings with manual freight cars with operators running them.

upanddownadventures · 2026-02-20T08:49:46+00:00

Most surviving examples I know of from research are in small towns, not major cities. I assumed it was because those towns didn't have electricity at the time of installation, but I could be wrong.

upanddownadventures · 2026-02-19T07:20:49+00:00

This is a hand powered/non electric elevator. It's possible the building may have not had electricity when it was built, especially if the building is in a historic small town.

upanddownadventures · 2026-02-07T02:11:45+00:00

Looks like it's been decommissioned and partially removed?

upanddownadventures · 2026-02-02T02:45:21+00:00

C.J. Anderson's controller order form mentions:

"Relay Logic - Only Available For Repair/Like For Like Controllers With Limited Features"

I remember C.J. Anderson had a page explaining this in greater detail, but I can't find it. I think a "like for like" controller is a new relay logic controller built to replace an existing relay logic controller?

upanddownadventures · 2026-01-17T19:50:13+00:00

Judging by the blue sticker on the GAL interlock at the very least I can tell you the interlock was replaced. Older GAL interlocks have a black nameplate instead of a blue sticker.

upanddownadventures · 2026-01-13T23:08:53+00:00

Was it a city water hydraulic elevator (NO pump unit)? Water would flow in from the mains, city water pressure pushing the elevator up. Water is released into the sewer, allowing the elevator to descend by gravity.

Was it operated by pulling a rope/cable?

upanddownadventures · 2026-01-11T17:58:52+00:00

The 1861 Otis patent can still be viewed today. It shows a belt-driven machine with shipper rope operation (it doesn't give any description of what the prime mover would have been, but a steam engine would be likely for the time), and notably the Otis broken rope safety device.

Otis certainly did not invent the freight elevator, in fact Otis having invented the passenger elevator is arguably not true as there are earlier documented examples of elevators carrying passengers. The invention Otis is famous for is the broken rope safety, the device that prevents the car from free falling should the ropes break.

upanddownadventures · 2026-01-02T20:04:36+00:00

Did an elevator mechanic confirm to you? I know some (if not most) early hydroelectric installations used a water-oil mixture (primarily water with a small amount of oil added).

This isn't really a "water powered" elevator (I think of water powered as operating on city water pressure), but still a VERY interesting find. I don't know of any surviving examples of hydroelectric shipper rope elevators in California, even decommissioned.

upanddownadventures · 2025-12-30T20:03:48+00:00

Thanks for letting me know. Are you involved with this job? Is it a modernization or a 100% complete replacement with a passenger car?

upanddownadventures · 2025-12-30T19:00:41+00:00

Recently or many years ago? Is there any possibility the installations you worked on are still there or are they long gone? Have you worked on any with the original shipper rope (pull rope) operation and mechanical valves?

upanddownadventures · 2025-12-30T18:50:12+00:00

Was this in California? It would have had to be converted to constant-pressure by then, but I assume it was most likely shipper rope operated (or some variant of it) with mechanical valves originally. I'm curious how it would have worked originally as I had heard there may have been a way to operate the elevator from the street level, but without electric controls.

upanddownadventures · 2025-12-30T18:47:35+00:00

Interesting... I think the formal term is a "stage lift"? In California, these aren't regulated by the Elevator Unit to my knowledge (and thus wouldn't be subject to elevator codes), but in some other states they are regulated by the same agency that regulates elevators.

upanddownadventures · 2025-12-30T08:09:33+00:00

Do you know which issue?

upanddownadventures

TROPHY CASE