Epic 1959 Rotary Piston Pump passenger and freight elevator at Younkers Lindale Mall Cedar Rapids IA

[@NathanDavisVideos]

It is very rare to come across a hydraulic elevator from the 1950s. It is EVEN MORE RARER to find one from the '40s!

[@TheTheo58]

I once worked in a hardware store which had a 1930's Otis hydraulic freight elevator going up three levels. The power unit was a large vertical standing pump, same as a sump pump in a steel tank filled with water and a lubricant additive. 5HP 3P 208V AC Induction Motor, magnetic motor start, switching relays, manual operation. Before the hardware store moved in the mid 60's Montgomery Ward's occupied the building. Elevator was in use for about 86 years till it was removed during renovations two years ago for an apartment complex.

[@studinthemaking]

Nathan Andrew Davis What is a piston pump elevator exactly?

[@exoticcar5482]

It is a type of hydraulic elevator that uses a primitive piston powered by a motor to pressurize the hydraulic fluid and push it into the cylinder

[@EyrthWyrmJym]

@@TheTheo58 nice. Too bad there's no video footage. I didn't know Otis made hydros during that time period.

[@suzannepottsshorts]

It was common to me!

[@skwarkson1680]

Very nice!

[@LB-td4sn]

EPIC MOTOR

[@isaac24]

Rip Bon Ton. I love Younkers, as it was my first elevator and department store.

[@isaac24]

I KNOW RIGHT!!!

[@suzannepottsshorts]

I had token the passenger Elevators here!

[@BuildingToursForLife1660-4]

Thank you Andrew for doing elevator videos and I enjoy them

[@LB-td4sn]

once Jason made a video of a piston pump in the MACHINE ROOM

[@OPG2711]

Normally, I'm not too crazy about shopping center or outdoor elevators, but from what I have seen, Bon-Ton stores are an exception.

[@patrickrichmond9896]

That I like. STL Elevators filmed the motor at the famous Kirkwood Medical building. That was awesome. Now we got to see the brains of the elevator that took me to my doctor's office from 1961 until 1985.

[@SL-de4bo]

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[@SL-de4bo]

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[@SL-de4bo]

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[@SL-de4bo]

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[@christopher-2000]

awesome lift video

[@blueauraretriever]

HOLY CRAP, I got to film this before store closes! Nice lift

[@thesherlockhound]

Both awesome elevators. The first elevators call button is in mint shape.

[@BuildingToursForLife1660-4]

So please keep doing them

[@supertechnocat8253]

Link to the Iowa Elevator Records Permits. NOTE: Brand & Manufacturer names are not listed on the certificates. elevators.iowa.gov/PublicPortal/Iowa/IWD/publicSearch/permitSearch.jsp

[@EyrthWyrmJym]

Reminds me of the Imperial at sentinel office center. That means that probably has a piston pump, too.

[@fastcsx1412]

Cool video very very cool

[@upanddownadventures]

Are Rotary/Dover Rota-Flow pump units always piston pump units?

[@janeeleanorknight8688]

It sucks that you can only travel one floor and that the door and gate don't automatically close in the freight elevator.

[@bannersxyz]

Wow wow wow 1959. What a great year. That's my birth year!

[@BuildingToursForLife1660-4]

Epic elevators

[@BuildingToursForLife1660-4]

With EPIC MOTORS y'all

[@jonathancreveling8699]

Was it just this location or did the whole chain fold?

[@DieselDucy]

The whole chain.

[@studinthemaking]

Is the store closing or is the whole mall closing?

[@DieselDucy]

Sears and this store are both closing. Sears I believe already closed

[@supertechnocat8253]

Sears closed in Mid July, from what I I know, the records said there was a freight elevator in there, but I did not see any elevator at all. It was only one story.

[@studinthemaking]

DieselDucy Thanks

[@ElevatorsMore]

Von Maur is the only anchor at this mall now.

[@dennismanbook]

Awesome! An classic

[@funtasticisland2874]

That elevator is BEYOND AMAZING for a dept store! Shame they have to close.

[@TheTheo58]

The passenger elevator is in very good condition, I've seen power units like this, they have a 3 or 4 groves in a pulley/belts connected to the motor and the pump impeller. The fright elevator appears to be in good shape, as well.

[@NewAgeServer]

That motor is very ominous sounding on the passenger elevator.

[@aidenmiddleton]

Sad to see that they will be lost!

[@NewAgeServer]

The passenger car's motor is rather creepy sounding from inside the car

[@theodorepfeffer7342]

It sucks that all the Bon-Ton owned stores are closing.

[@TheMatsushitaMan]

What do the piston pump power units look like?

[@supertechnocat8253]

It would’ve been cool if I could’ve rode the freight elevator. How did you manage to ride the freight elevator?

[@EWPA14]

It appears they just went back there, as it's right next to the passenger & the door's open.

[@DieselDucy]

Pretty much what I did. Place is closing. Normally I don’t trespass but in a case like this I don’t look at as trespassing. I’m preserving history. These elevators will probably never be used again.

[@EWPA14]

I’ve never ridden a store freight w/o permission. Only ridden 1 in fact. Sadly these will probably either sit abandoned, or get removed/demolished.

[@DieselDucy]

Yeah it’s a shame. These elevators ran like the day they were installed. In less than two weeks they will probably never run again

[@supertechnocat8253]

Store closes in about a week and a half. I actually felt good actually able to found at first and was able to tell you about it and share it with others in case they want to ride it. I was also curious about what did you think when it said Chenoweth Kern Elevator service. And Did you by any chance ride/film the escalators? They are 1959 Westinghouse’s!. Also who maintains these elevators?