Behind the scenes look at a 1954 OTIS elevator (Elevator ride machine room tour and car top ride)

[@HardDriveGuruOfficial]

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.

[@DieselDucy]

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.

[@Initsm2.0]

😭😒 👈😂😂😂

[@ryanjacob8568]

I had no idea the components of an elevator lasted this long. That’s a testament to the manufacturing of that era!

[@stevemorales]

The beauty of old mechanical systems vs electronic systems right now. I’m pretty sure fridges from that same year still run perfectly.

[@jacquesmertens3369]

"And please do not try this at home". Don't worry. I don't happen to have a 1954 Otis elevator at home.

[@norfolkelevators8477]

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.

[@radanju3]

1954.9

[@emrilbennett8704]

But who was that cutie? Who made that comment?

[@silasbertodo150]

I work at Otis Brasil and do maintenance in a building that has this model of elevator .... It works very well

[@Potew]

Qual cidade/estado?

[@effluviah7544]

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!

[@1dabut1]

it use to be a great job until the guys f--ked it up

[@markcantemail8018]

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 .

[@edhagerty6810]

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.

[@quarans08]

Ed Hagerty please stop I’m going to a mall with a lot of escalators 😭😭

[@charlesmurphy1510]

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.

[@SnipCola28]

That controller room with all those relays simply amazes me it's so old, but still working fine

[@MTSVW]

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.

[@formerx]

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.

[@officialdieselstudios2251]

Old American iron. So when the thing finally breaks they will repair it with Chinese parts that will break within the first 5 minutes.

[@ВасилийПичугин-м3н]

Да . Это немного менее прочно чем АК47. Очень очень немного. )))

[@sar1138-]

??

[@PIYOSHEDITS]

This is very true

[@MrAlex-ej8ov]

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....

[@loganad325]

Well, That was probably hard but at least you made it? Wait... Did you make it????

[@ericbowen5829]

That must've been tiring but in the end I guess it was worth it

[@BobWilson84]

That electromechanical relay logic is awesome, just coils and contacts.

[@slamshed]

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 :-)

[@Usgonvernmentoil92]

How long! This elevator has been for 82 years! Otis made A great Job in making this elevator working for 82 years!

[@DieselDucy]

It is amazing.

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!

[@alpaljl]

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!

[@DieselDucy]

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

[@HobbyOrganist]

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!

[@Gabri_T_04]

Your intro + home theatre + dolby digital surround = paradise

[@mwrcrft]

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.

[@PL1Lifts]

'do not do this at home' because everyone has an elevator in their house 😂

[@williamscoufaras7045]

PotatoLift1 I wish I had one in my house 😂

[@PAelevators]

my aunt has an elevator in her home

[@blueauraretriever]

PAelevators lucky :) 😁 😂 FRIRND

[@PL1Lifts]

PAelevators apartment?

[@PAelevators]

PotatoLift1 No my cousin is in a wheelchair it’s in her house

[@keplerr1512]

dude i really appreciate your love for elevators

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

I’ve worked on hundreds of elevators, including under slung. But this is a very unique elevator. Changing the cables would be very difficult.

[@wilw9607]

Thank you for taking me to a place that I would never be. Love it!

[@lachihebhassib7256]

I am a Elevator maintenance technician and have 7 years experience in the installation and maintenance of elevators. At your service, Sir

[@leewyser9073]

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

[@andrewmacgregor9820]

That was really cool. I've always wanted to see the workings of an elevator and the shaft! Thanks.

[@iangilldjsuperdude]

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! 😉

[@Nigel_Broatch]

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.

[@benolifts]

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.

[@mareecrawford5672]

He cut the cables?

[@peterlomas984]

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.

[@benolifts]

The dispatcher

[@peterlomas984]

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.

[@mshelton26]

Beno Li

[@Zmrt457]

Those relays clicking is full on ASMR I could listen to it all day haha

[@DieselDucy]

Glad you enjoy it! I love it too :)

[@cowboyfrankspersonalvideos8869]

Installed when I was 2 years old. Unlike a lot of much newer elevators, this one has been well maintained.

[@DieselDucy]

This was amazing.

[@KutWrite]

That thing was sure well maintained. Thanks for the tour.

[@nlo114]

Solid, rugged, reliable; interesting. KZbin 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 :-)

[@billybassman21]

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.

[@mikegross6107]

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.

[@gram.]

That was some awesome relay action bruh

[@robertking3130]

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.

[@ryguyrepairs]

I've seen a machine room before and a car top! Ive always wanted to do this

[@bigclivedotcom]

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.

[@justanothergirlgamer]

*first reply*

[@CAelevators.]

Merry Christmas! Wow, it’s awesome to be able to see on top of a old Otis elevator!

[@TROllingNINJA2031]

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 😂

[@kd5nrh]

Ultimately, the patients are paying it.

[@buffya8012]

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...😳

[@andrewzapar2585]

NikkiAmelia RS wow 😯

[@buffya8012]

- 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

[@PatrickCruzan]

You ever make it to Portland and I'll show you a fine pair of 1965 Otis machines.

[@Silviu_AM50S]

5 years later whatcing this and i have so many memories on this video fronm when i was 8

[@TopGames-fx1iy]

This is the channel we need more of. Keep it up! Been watching since 2004!

[@daneelolivaw1550]

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.

[@DieselDucy]

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.

[@peterlomas984]

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.

[@katiedonovanAlt]

"An undisclosed location." Sure. We all know MIT's elevator shafts, dude.

[@madera648]

Yeah me neither lol

[@shaddowbladegaming5655]

Yeah me either

[@thecarwashchannel9781]

Me too

[@k80theshade]

Well so far that makes four! Four smart asses! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

[@75732]

@@k80theshade well so far that makes one! One asshole Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

[@Ddiscontinued]

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!

[@utah133]

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.

[@seantig479]

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!!!

[@philipcollins3849]

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

[@BuildingToursForLife1660-4]

EPIC Elevator y'all with EPIC MOTOR And EPIC RELAY'S Y'ALL

[@d0u6la5m]

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.

[@patrickrichmond9896]

As a guy who used to work in a hospital, I have seen thousands of patients come in with so many types of injuries it's hard to keep count. For some who were making childish remarks about what I said, safety is not the thing to be making jokes about or playing games with. The cables we see that run the elevator up and down are called wire ropes! Where I worked, those things can be like saws on high-speed elevators. Elevator cleaning is really a two-person job. The job I had was with just the doors, fixtures, and the inside of the elevator cab. The exterior stuff and the area where the machine room is at iss maintained by the elevator company. Sometimes I would go beyond the call of duty and give their safety signs a wash.

[@DieselDucy]

These elevators are cool.

[@dorothymerrell6091]

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.

[@tony359]

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?

[@GreenPlanet669]

to level the elevator with the floor 🤦‍♂️

[@stampycatfan01lol]

Awesome! You're quite lucky to have the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at a historical beauty!

[@jollyjeezy2883]

We had one like this (double door; front and back) in the public library at Kingsport, TN. You could hear the relay switches clacking.

[@qeelevators2960]

In the U.S.A there isn’t many old elevators and that’s why DieselDucy doesn’t upload videos like this often!

[@Tony.B.]

Beautiful piece of machinery, thanks for sharing!

[@sonycrack1]

Our city elevator inspector took me on a top side ride along....much more modern machine, but still interesting!

[@richardzink6026]

Properly maintained that elevator will run better then half the computerized systems made today

[@danefilander6306]

I love the floor selector buttons in the elevator car it's very interesting.

[@DieselDucy]

It was!

[@blue.light.fazbear]

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)

[@DieselDucy]

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.

[@kellytappis]

Very nice elevator works like a dream edit:I’m surprised it’s still working now is a very old elevator

[@JIm-w1b]

I remember the elevator in the Warren Ohio courthouse, it didn't have doors, it had wrought iron gates and you could watch the cables and cab in action. There was also an old department store that had glass doors on the elevator and you could watch all the goings-on. Then I saw the mechanic's view of the elevator inside the Washington monument, too

[@gmc0422]

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.

[@americanmilitiaman88]

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

[@anthonybrancale4855]

That was more guts than I've seen in a long time. Wow. Cool video.

[@REWYRED]

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.

[@aidenp265]

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.

[@lukewilson1092]

i remember when this video was new

[@user-kp6xf4gf7t]

Interesting call station. I’ve also been on a 1954 otis before and the call station had a working roto-dial but no lamps for the buttons.

[@DieselDucy]

It was!

[@friendlypiranha774]

We still have quite a few of these old elevators (lifts) in the suburbs of Cape Town. I even know of 4 buildings that still have what we call 'cage lifts'.

[@patrickrichmond9896]

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.

[@ruffnut5438]

Streetcar1664 when you try to act smart xD

[@scottpark4647]

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

[@shaunnan146]

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.

[@Abarth328GTS]

When I was the little kids age I was riding car tops with my father :)

[@schweizerischeaufzugevonad1968]

Beautiful vintage and historic lift. I love your videos

[@colinquinton474]

Those are similar to the lifts in our centre, ours were originally fitted in the 60's by Otis

[@josematiascermenoorsermanc8211]

Amazing...this elevator look very well.greetings from venezuela

[@keith800]

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.

[@AggiePhil]

I saw this too and wonder about the history.

[@Whymedude888]

I just got hired as an elevator mechanic apprentice and its truly amazing

[@over.4262]

“Don’t try this at home” Don’t worry, I have no 1954 OTIS at home.

[@domenicolamorte6979]

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.

[@Techno-Universal]

That elevator is also just as efficient as many modern elevators that have really good intelligent levelling! That elevator will also most likely easily last over a hundred years if it’s well maintained and cared for which would be quite simple and minimal because of the simplicity of the elevator and how it’s extremely well built and designed compared to most modern elevators! :)

[@DieselDucy]

It was amazing.

[@peterlomas984]

Nice original O type door operator, simple operation AC motor with DC injection to electrically stop the motor. When closed the roller on the door close 6098 switch should be in the centre of the operating ramp. If the contacts on DST were burnt up the motor would over run and be out of synchronisation.They sure made them to last in those days not like the crap installed today.

[@LiftEnthusiast2020OFFTOPIC]

Peter Lomas True I love old stuff

[@firealarmtechguy4444]

GAL's MOVFR II seems to be the best you can get in the modern day. OTIS's AT400 is junk. so is KONE and ThyssenKrupp's AMD linear door operator.

[@DBD801]

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

[@DieselDucy]

Holy cow !

[@PAelevators]

Very cool. But also very dangerous bc of there being no car top controls. Merry Christmas Andrew

[@DieselDucy]

It was an experience alright ....

[@EWPA14]

Nice! Never knew you did this too. I remember this 1.

[@miketrissel5494]

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 ...

[@blackbearish]

"so that being said we're gonna climb on this thing," totally cool as a cucumber right there. bleedin' 'ell man! so chilled out. riding the top like rocket Raccoon in mission break out at Disneyland. what confidence you had in your mate operating the car as you sat on top of the elevator.

[@firesurfer]

After you've done it a couple hundred times it's not a big deal. Only the open ones in fancy hotels are scary. 400 foot straight down with no walls. hiddenarchitecture.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/marquis_01-1.jpg That's one of the ones that I have worked on. Those doors and facia, we installed over about 9 months.

[@moviebg4662]

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.

[@vexx707]

10:39 maybe his son ? 🤦‍♂️

[@Barnaulets17]

This elevator is so clean, it looks like it's from 1980s, not 1954. Our elevators in Russia 1980s look older. Good elevator!

[@patrickrichmond9896]

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.

[@Whynotthem65]

Try NYCHA next. Also try a commercial tower. I would like to better understand the technology comparison... Good video

[@NC_YT_123]

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.

[@DieselDucy]

Yeah. This place has been protected.

[@axysdnyd]

Awesome video, great to see the purely mechanical elevators like this. Built to last.

[@sophianaughton8054]

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

[@DieselDucy]

This was amazing.

[@jimtomassetti4817]

Thank's for the ride!!

[@espeon_196]

wow, such a privilege to be on top o' these...

[@jerradcampbell74]

An absolutely stunning video. You seem to have been in good hands with Sebastian on site. ;)

[@SteveHolsten]

I'm watching again. I'm 57 years old but those elevator shafts are so spooky to me.

[@phillipmoise7978]

Oldest I've worked on was an 1886 Moon. DC motor freight.