Amazing 1905 Otis Freight Elevator

The company where I work was interested in my hobby of filming elevators, and they invited me to film the elevator in a vacant shoe factory that they own. The building dates back to 1905 (in fact, it was constructed out of wood from the 1904 World's Fair). While I'm not sure if the elevator itself is original the building (the COP has obviously been updated at some point), it's still amazing. I've never been able to observe a geared traction elevator in action like this before. In fact, due to the way it's designed, you can see just as well as you could if you went elevator surfing! There is machine room footage available at the end of the video, as well as some photos. Follow me on:
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[@MsJamiewoods]

I work as a janitor. One of my first janitor jobs was back in the summer of 1983 working for a cleaning contractor at the old Zwicker Knitting Mill in Appleton, Wis. Since I worked on various floors and had to store my cart in the basement, I had to frequently use the various freight elevators. We're talking as old school as could be.

[@mpollux2]

TheElevatorChannel, i think this is so far, the BEST elevator video you have ever filmed!!!

[@Davett53]

November 2022. Many thanks for this video,....I had my art studio in a small factory warehouse, built in 1900. There was an ancient freight elevator in the rear, that was large enough to lift a 1960s VW Beetle. Me and my fellow artists, only used the massive, ancient, and kind of scary freight elevator to empty out the trash, once a month. It had wood slatted doors, and operation of the elevator car, was achieved by manually pulling a greasy black cable, accessed through a square opening on the side of the car. Once the cable was pulled the car would ascend or descend,....pulling the cable released the counterweights, and triggered a motor to assist the car to go up or down. Stopping the car, was done by watching the floor of the elevator for when it was even or level with the floor you wanted to exit. I believe lifting the safety gate, is what stopped the car. Or there may have been a stop button,....there wasn't an up or down button,....that action was done by pulling on the cable. We rented that building in the 1980s & 1990s, before people had cellphones to capture daily life. I never thought about taking a film photo and we didn't have video camcorders to record things. I just have my vivid memories to recall.

[@mattipolarbear6739]

Build in 1900?

[@Davett53]

@@mattipolarbear6739 Yes! The warehouse my studio was in, was built in 1900. It was so cool and old. I moved into it in 1980, and the boilers for the steam heat were still using coal to heat it. By 1984, they converted it to natural gas. I saw one morning, a coal truck, pouring coal down a chute, on the side of the building. The coal went into the basement. At around 3 AM, a caretaker, would come and check, and then shovel the coal into the furnace for the boilers, that produced the steam for the radiators, throughout the building.

[@coondogtheman]

Nice motor start up sound. Funny thing is, when I was a kid I was afraid of that sound now I love it.

[@cannycart]

That has to be the most AMAZING elevator I have EVER seen! Also, this could possibly be one of the oldest in the country after the Vanderbilt.

[@user-dc5kr2ly7h]

いひや（ 0:28 😅

[@LisaMarli]

Elevators act as chimneys in the event of fire. So they were frequently built "outside". And those extra doors you easily see on the fifth floor are fire doors. The first thing you do in the event of fire is close those doors. In modern buildings you will see automatic doors that close off the elevator area in the event of fire. For a while, fire doors were not mandatory, so you find some strange retrofits to meet modern fire codes. And shorter buildings don't need fire doors. Yes, another fun thing to look for when playing with elevators, especially older ones. I worked for a building manager for a while, during the retrofit of a set of 50s buildings.

[@EWPA14]

I believe a couple other reasons for them being built on the exterior is for light, & sometimes street-level access.

[@BrokebackBob]

Those buttons are classic Otis.

[@MsJamiewoods]

These freight elevators and their call buttons were simple up/down push button switches with completely manual trial and error leveling. As for safety, it was all up to the operator. Some had wooden slat gates from eye level to the floor. Other elevators had only upper thigh to chest height gates. The once nice thing was those wooden slat gates went up and down very easily. After a short while you learned to level well otherwise your mop bucket would slosh water from second floor down to the basement. Oh and once a week I had to raise the elevator slightly, trip a limit switch with a broom handle so I could open the gate and thus lock out the elevator. Then I had to climb down into the elevator pit and sweep it out and then climb back up and lower the gate. I had no idea how old those three freight elevators were.

[@EWPA14]

What's interesting is this was originally a a "pull-the-rope" or tiller-line operated elevator, which is the reason why this has a big rectangular hole around the buttons. The modernization looks like it was done in the 50s-70s, obviously by Otis, & what's interesting is the buttons are actually on a car-top station.

[@johndeerman66]

I was on a manually controled one about a year ago here in canada, The elevator that I rode in is about well over 100 years old still runs like a clock to this day. congrats to you for filming this rare gem. Very nice old freight elevator. These old elevators will outlive you and me

[@abedbush]

What an awesome video! Thanks so much for taking the time to make and post this video for us all to enjoy!

[@MrBrombomb]

Wow! What an amazing find! I bet this place has some vintage toilets worth filming as well. I filmed a few bathrooms at a former factory in Philadelphia, PA, which was probably built in 1941. There was an awesome vintage freight elevator in there that I had the pleasure of riding & unfortunately didn't film. I definitely hope to go back there & film the elevator as well as more vintage bathrooms there. I might be taking an old 1941 "Standard" (American Standard) Compton toilet from the place.

[@tkeforever4809]

As a Las Vegas 35 years in the trade mechanic, I think this is cool as hell! Check out the old-school mercury reverse phase switch! This was a year before the IUEC was organized!

[@upanddownadventures]

Do you know of many pre-1980 unmodernized elevators in Las Vegas? (or especially pre-1950 unmodernized elevators, of which there are likely very few)

[@tkeforever4809]

upanddownadventures - There are very few. Vegas tends to live by the 40 year rule...modernize or blow it up! Of the big hotels, Westgate (The old International) and The W (The old Sahara/SLS) still have Otis pie-plate selector controls. Four Queens has a ‘50’s sidewalk lift in it.

[@upanddownadventures]

@@tkeforever4809 Do you know anything about the elevators at Binion's?

[@tkeforever4809]

upanddownadventures - Like Tropicana, those elevators were half-modded about 30 years ago.

[@upanddownadventures]

@@tkeforever4809 What do you mean by half-modded? Cabs redone & fixtures replaced, but controllers & machines are original? Or do you mean something different? Do you know if any c. 1932 elevators (either guest elevators, or employee/freight elevators, and functional or defunct elevators) still exist from the Apache Hotel (part of Binion's, likely one of the first buildings in Las Vegas to have an elevator)? If so, are those elevators original or modernized, and do they have manual or automatic doors? I know the Apache Hotel recently reopened.

[@L0rdLogan]

I love that motor, keep up theses video's I love them.

[@PAelevators]

By the way the operating panel is built in it looks like this was at one time a pull the rope elevator

[@knighttime093]

That start up is fantastic!

[@bradbest8221]

Great to know that you will be doing another video of that building for an in depth look...............I love these types of videos featuring abandoned building and elevator videos. I follow the elevator professionals like yourself and Diesel Ducey.... very interesting & entertaining stuff.... I'm probably one of your few Canadian viewers too.......... Keep up the good work..........

[@Nautical_Parsnip]

Logic: go into abandoned building •Open door to scary box •Go into scary box •close the door

[@nguyenvanphuchjknngj3786]

Good

[@hollyamb3786]

i'm pritty suprised to see it working still & i wouldnt mind getting stuck in a lift like that

[@NovioSites]

Amazing, even motor room included!

[@AsloAso]

Nice old Lift & that motor sounds soo good.

[@misterwint]

That is an amazing motor room. Love it!

[@TheTheo58]

This elevator from the early 1900's is quite a find and still working. Yes, back in the old days machines were built to last. The relay rack looks original, I noted the reversing relay below the fuses. I know of a similar fright elevator installed in the early 30's in the S.H. Kress Store Berkeley,CA with 2:1 roping however the compensating sheave, top of the car was smaller. The up and down magnetic buttons sure were added later probably replacing a hand controller for up and down.

[@EWPA14]

I'm pretty sure it was actually a "pull-the-rope" or tiller-line operated elevator, which is the reason why this has a big rectangular hole around the buttons. The modernization looks like it was done in the 50s-70s, obviously by Otis, & what's interesting is the buttons are actually on a car-top station.

[@TheTheo58]

@@EWPA14 Seems more likely it was a a pull the rope or tiller line operated since there was a large open space where the magnetic up/down buttons were installed. I have seen a few videos of tiller line/pull the rope operated elevators. The hydro fright elevator at my former job was originally "pull the rope" the pulley (sheave) was still anchored top of the shaft. Then changed to electric manually operated.

[@Bombiedude.]

Yes I definitely agree that the control panel was definitely modernized at a later time because it does not look original like the elevator and it looks to be in good shape

[@jefftherailroadenthusiast8889]

Surprisingly it still has power to it. No elevator is complete without a motor room tour

[@VintageLiftLad]

Amazing, just proves how well workmanship used to be, vacant building yet the elevator still runs smooth, heck if you left a modern day MRL vacant for even a year i bet i wouldn't run. Great video! :D

[@jeremygauntt3695]

I did work inside the old Seattle Times Bldg with very similar original freight elevators! As far as I know they are still there.

[@zmanzd8413]

NICE GREAT JOB!!!!

[@mikemcewen2092]

I worked in an old building with a freight elevator ,it had a flat belt drive on it ,we had to climb up there and put the belt back on once in a while,I think it was an Otis ,great video thanks Mike

[@upanddownadventures]

What building is it in? Does it still exist? Is it pull rope operated?

[@TomBom292]

That elevator sounds really cool

[@ElevatingBoston]

I somehow missed this video. I loved it. My grandfather actually used to be a maintenance worker in a group of factories in New Bedford, MA. He always said that he usually spent his days fixing the elevators (climbing up and down the shaft, on the cab, in the machine room etc) because they always got stuck. They were also turn-of-the-century factories and probably very similar to this one. Definitely have to be wary of asbestos though when going in these old factories. Did you ask about it?

[@elevatortraction]

WOW! Amazing elevator!

[@retroolschool]

Outstanding sight!

[@yamahonkawazuki]

Amazing find my friend. keep up the good work

[@EyrthWyrmJym]

AWESOME!

[@express777100]

hi mate, i am retired now but i have removed and reinstalled a number of old lifts and those with wooden guides are usually 1900 onwards plus the old controller made that a giveaway. liked the doors with counterweights. in england a rip out is known as an r and r.

[@Daminski_Elevator]

Wow, so interesting and so old elevator 😍

[@electricbrooke]

Awesome!

[@QuietSundayLibrary]

This barren, dilapidated factory reminds me of something out of a 1970s-era suspense flick for some reason.

[@Destiny24522]

I’m sorry I’m 8 years late ;w;”. Oh and yeah that was 8 YEARS!! 0-0”

[@orangefaygo1]

The door you mentioned on the top floor was a fire door. it has a counterweight attached to a cotton rope. when the rope burns it releases the counterweight slamming the steel clad wooden door closed.

[@Cmbgo98]

When I go back to Massachusetts there is a Vintage super old elevator at a Toy Store it dates back to 1865 well the "cab" does anyways the motor was recently replaced It was originally steam powered and the old steam generator is still there but now defunct

[@LittleRockElevators]

Still runs great.

[@kc0eks]

amazing! loved this. thanks

[@thewildeeper]

Wow, what a great find! And a view of the machine room as well! You lucky dog, haha

[@feppelevator]

i agree!

[@JoshCraver9000]

I would LOVE to ride that elevator

[@JoshCraver9000]

I like the sound of that motor

[@alpaljl]

AMAZING

[@Old_Dean-78]

Good video

[@NJPurling]

Did you break into the place just to check out that ancient elevator? If so: It was a bonus the power was still on to fire it up. It looks like the controller is more recent than the elevator itself, which would tally with the switches in the car being more modern. Wouldn't there have simply been a lever with 'up' & 'down' at either side & a switch for on/off. Nice brass fittings but horrobly conductive if there was a fault. Very, very interesting to see such detail in the shaft. Was there two ways into the machine room? I see there was a ladder at the very top of the shaft as well as a door onto the roof.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

I actually had permission from the company that owns the place to film this. I believe the controller and elevator are from the same period, but the car operating panel was replaced some time later (probably in the 60's or 70's). Judging by the size of the hole above the new COP, I'd say that this elevator originally had a classic "crank" lever to control it (one side to go up, the other to go down). And yes, you can enter the machine room from either the ladder at the top of the shaft (which looked extremely dangerous) or through the roof hatch.

[@csle1962]

And I like that elevator, too.

[@elevatorman247Productions]

Nice. I actually found TWO old 1900 Otis Freightesr at a former textile mill in Huntsville in what is now an arts and entertainment center. However, the call buttons on the elevator are non-functional as there is an elevator operator permanently taking visitors to whichever floors they wish. To call the elevator, you have to use a Honeywell wireless call button that they've "taped" to the wall.

[@nbigham1]

Cool

[@SamSitar]

ham549 and rode a similar elevator in easthampton ma. building looks great for being abandoned. when did they leave it? to quote kevin st.denis this elevator is a gem.

[@elevatorsasansorler]

good

[@jacksonslaterelevatorraila6444]

you are looking at a ex pull the rope elevator right there so definitley possible of being original.

[@JaydenMania]

Who was controlling the elevator while you were showing us the Motor room I bet it was Diesel Ducey

[@filmaricudronaoty4820]

old is histort ,nice video

[@Ham549]

LOL at filming the Governor ropes and wondering if you would see a counterweight.

[@crazybob1954mo]

Hi, I live 30 miles south of St. Louis in Festus. HaHa I took some pictures of the old Hamilton Shoe Company in Desoto several months ago. Would you mind telling me which shoe company building is in this video?? Very interesting. I am a retired Industrial Electrician and have seen may old and vintage electrical systems in my travels. Perhaps the Brown Shoe Company or the International shoe Company? Very much interesting history in St. Louis. My mom was a friend with a Mrs Lucianna Gladney Ross. She was the daughter of Frank Gladney, one of the three inventors of 7-UP and owned the company. Thanks Bob

[@TheElevatorChannel]

+Bob Duvall This is the old International Shoe building in Jefferson City. Fascinating place, but I was only able to access it because I used to work for the company that owns it.

[@nabel060709]

nice

[@garywheeler7039]

On the 5th floor of the very old shoe factory, there is a self closing fire door that seals off the elevator shaft in the case of a fire. The rolling door is probably 2 or 3 inches of solid wood covered with tin on each side. If a special metal link (maybe lead alloy) breaks due to fire and heat on either side from a fire, a hold open cable is broken and the door will automatically roll downhill and close off the opening. It might have had a 2-hour fire rating. Theoretically giving two hours of protection from fire. Disappointed I didn't see stairwells at opposite corners of the building however. If it was full of shoes it might have been a fire hazard and having only one stairway in the middle could be bad news.

[@bradbest8221]

What part of the building were the Dumbwaiters in? I see no reminisce of a dumbwaiter on the top floor.............how far were they from the operational Freight elevator? what side?

[@mpollux2]

Very Nice Find!!! and can you PLEASE post your latest car wash video today??!

[@NeilPrasad_1905]

Machine room scene 6:26 - Going up 7:03 - Going down

[@sollows1]

THere is only one freight elevator in my town!

[@charmekawells6444]

We have one of those at my school

[@qeelevators2960]

*RARE...*

[@outrageousdeathfreddy134in8]

Appreciate the cab? THERE IS NO CAB!!!!

[@EWPA14]

Yes there is. There’s just no roof.

[@sollows1]

i sometimes get the shakes filming elevators when i can. because elevator photography isn't recognized here in Nova Scotia!

[@sollows1]

did you pull your back out lifting that door?

[@HesitantSignal]

Nice find! BTW: Have you seen my video of a 1920s OTIS Elevator?

[@SFVnative]

I think it must be modernized because they had to be manually operated that long ago. They couldn't run on push buttons and automatically stop at floors. There had to be an elevator operator.

[@EWPA14]

I believe it was controlled by a tiller-line judging by looks. I believe the current fixtures are from the 50s. I don’t think this 1 had an operator.

[@tkeforever4809]

Elevating Western PA - You’re correct. The governor and controller are original. GAL and Hollister-Whitney were later, so this is obviously a limited Mod.

[@express777100]

that is the oldest working lift i have ever seen, and i have worked on some realy old stuff, i like the old wooden guides.

[@EyrthWyrmJym]

Should've tried the bathroom. Might have gotten antique fixtures.

[@EWPA14]

He did get into 1 of the bathrooms here in a later video (not the 5th floor 1s though).

[@VintageLiftLad]

Well if you're right I wouldn't be suprised if this thing hasn't been serviced regulary in a very long time. It's a real big shame that it's unlikely we're ever gonna see good solid workmanship like this ever again, as we all know how cheaply things are manufactured these days.

[@Ham549]

That motor looks newer than 1905.

[@johnseeger9232]

and itm still works?!

[@JP-vw6dj]

It’s a “Sheave” not a gear

[@kansasthunderman1]

The traction machine was made by Hollister & Whitney (H & W) and run by a GAL controller. Both H & W and GAL are owned by a family corporation based in N.Y. My guess is the machine room is part of a 1970's modernization job.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

I've been trying to determine what exactly this is for some time. Everyone i talked to at the company was insistent that this elevator was completely original from the turn of the century. Obviously the buttons in the cab were replaced some time from the 50s to the 70s, but with my limited knowledge I was never able to determine whether or not the machinery at the top was original. The only thing I can tell you is that the traction machine has a stamp that says something along the lines of "Otis Elevator" and then lists the name and address of the building. Also, aren't there too few cables for that motor to be as modern as the 1970s?

[@kansasthunderman1]

H & W is an "independent" manufacturer that sells on the open market to all the contractors in North and South America. When they get an order, they provide the customer's name cast on the cover of the gear box. It's a well known little "secret" in the elevator biz that Otis actually buys hoist machines from H-W and brands them as their own. Customers have asked me if they should buy from Otis or a local independent contractor and if there's a difference in quality. I've told them in the low rise sector, the equipment they will get from an independent is actually the same product they would get from Otis, but pay a higher price for the brand name!!! By the way, I hope that that quaint old brick building isn't going to be torn down.It can be renovated for commercial or residential use. The Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco is renovated chocolate factory.

[@TheElevatorChannel]

kansasthunderman1 Thanks for the info! As of early this year (last time I talked to anyone at the company that owns this building), there aren't any immediate plans to do anything to it. Apparently it is on the market, though it's priced fairly high and not advertised much at all. I've heard that the problem with converting this building is that, by code, you can't have a building over 3 stories with wooden interior construction. I guess with old dry wooden beams/floors and ONE staircase, this place would be a total death trap in the event of a fire. Could make renovating and repurposing it quite the challenge. I agree though- With all of those windows, this could make a beautiful apartment building. I bet the developer could get a pretty nice tax break for renovating this place, too.

[@EWPA14]

This is most likely original to the building. From knowledge & looking at this, this appears to have originally been a "pull-the-rope" or tiller-line operated elevator, which is the reason why this has a big rectangular hole around the buttons. The modernization looks like it was done in the 50s-70s, obviously by Otis, & what's interesting is the buttons are actually on a car-top station. I was only thinking the buttons & controller were new, but I didn't think the motor was too. I know Otis nowadays uses Hollister Whitney motors & brands them as their own, but I didn't think that was the case back when this was modded.

[@Kynisdimension]

How did you dare to ride that elevator in a building that was abandoned 40 years ago? Yes, ok i saw that there was some kind of safety system there, but still. I would afraid too much to ride in it.

[@twmax4137]

that's a pulley not a gear

[@airtranlover]

Is this the old shoe factory?

[@TheElevatorChannel]

Yep. I didn't have permission to disclose the location the first time I visited (during this video). By the time I made the second one (with the complete tour), I did.

[@emorris272]

I live in Rolla MO. I'll have to go look at it some time!

[@MrDiemme]

Is an abandoned place?

[@EWPA14]

Somewhat.

[@red142100]

Yeah it looks scary, Where doe's the elevator get power,because a person wont just be paying the power bill.

[@TheTheo58]

Apperantely the electrical service was still on, the elevators requires three phase AC 440 volts or higher

[@leno4399]

the cop is a cartop station

[@Ham549]

It's not a gear it is a Shive

[@connor55653]

Ham549 it's a fcking shive

[@vcummins]

Norrene Kern Sheave

[@JP-vw6dj]

Def not original from 1905, that machine looks like it is from the 80’s it looks like a hollister Whitney

[@inactivechannel7029]

Lol 2:17

[@CTCTV-jw8ol]

Old

[@hz6761]

U fart @ 2:17? lol

[@twmax4137]

that was his mouth

[@Marcel-bg4st]

Cool