OLD EXPRESS LIFT SWITCH ON (Part 1) - sorry for the cliff hanger

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Forgot to say, thanks to everyone who joined the Premiere. Part 2 is coming soon, but loads of editing to do for this one!

[@radnerd17]

A great big thanks to Matt and Chay for spending so much time going out of your way to film quality videos for us! Great video as always 👍

[@mrmattandmrchay]

COOL! Glad you enjoyed it TXC. In the end, the content you upload reflects on you, like a painting in a gallery! Yep, some people can upload a video straight from their camera - nothing wrong in that. But I'm not happy until I've spent some time on it. Problem is, this means less uploads, but as I've always said, I wouldn't have it any other way!

[@radnerd17]

Always quality, not quantity!

[@steve45678]

Quality not quantity, superb editing and cinematography. 👌👌👌

[@Clement-xy9iv]

Wow, I had a particular pleasure watching this one. I love how that lift is in all it's original glory. It's a time capsule, and it's in pristine shape. I love it. Thank you so much for showing this, and always keeping the great quality!

[@almfreak]

I love it! These videos are so amazing. The atmosphere created between your camera shots, the light and the ambient music are a masterpiece in my eyes, but i'm a sucker for old electromechanical technology! Excited to see part 2!

[@RODALCO2007]

Nice that 3 phase control power-transformer with 380, 400 and 415 Volts taps on the primary. Choice of music is excellent.

[@TheTheo58]

very interesting, got some massive traveling cable beneath the cab. Basement traction machine, good design with the steel cage around the driven sheave.

[@TheBiggerburger]

Bigger font on the info would have been nice, but, great video, really interesting

[@mr.struppi9903]

Super Video, i can not wait for part 2!

[@misterwint]

Great video. I can't wait for part 2.

[@KJ7BZC]

Man this video came out great, very nice editing and a flawless transition to the intro I must say. I can't wait to see what happens next!

[@abpsd73]

It would be interesting to know the backstory on this lift. Why was it shut down? Lack of use, component failure?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Sorry, I have no idea

[@Ragnar8504]

@@mrmattandmrchay No idea about the UK but in Austria the most likely answer is because some regs changed and the owners didn't want to pay for modernising the lift and turned it off instead.

[@morthren]

Well, the up arrow illuminated...

[@oreoofficial97]

Hi morthren I watch ur videos

[@oreoofficial97]

It's quite interesting

[@oreoofficial97]

And I'm subbed

[@mrmattandmrchay]

The down arrow lights up as well :)

[@ZZ9ProductionsOFFICIAL]

if only that cartop inspection control was still original

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Yeah would have been better but at least the inductors and vanes are still there. Will have a look at these in next video.

[@gryff8400]

Those noises... I'd forgotten them. When I studied the entire university was full of express lifts.. and those buttons.. You never see them anymore.. how times change ..

[@Lift.Tracker]

Bristol by any chance?

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

Awesome video and very exciting to see it power up! But could you make the font size a little bigger and clearer?

[@BurkenProductions]

There's nothing wrong with the font though-

[@neilstokescvwshrewsbury7939]

Nice to see you don’t take the risks like BENO

[@mxsteven]

sensation and the music makes me feel like metal gear solid lols

[@fluxington]

A lovely bit of panel wiring in that cabinet! And the graphics labelling the relays/contactors was a nice touch.

[@Nivestim]

Omg, the atmosphere is so scary, also, nice video

[@elevatorfilmersg]

Dear mrmattandmrchay, I have some very exciting news for you. Apparently my friend found out that the 1975 high rise lifts were apparently use Westinghouse DMR Controllers!!! So apparently DMR controlled lifts are not extinct yet!!! Mitsubishi and Westinghouse had a collaboration back then and Mitsubishi bought Westinghouse parts. My friend compared the controller and most of the parts used were EXACTLY THE SAME!! Moreover the lifts in the building serve even more floors than the one you have filmed! Amazing that the lifts survived without being modernised for over 44 years. A shame that you wouldn’t be able to see it as the building is closing tomorrow :(( . Seems that Express branded DMR controlled lifts are now extinct, and now Mitsubishi branded DMR controlled lifts will also be extinct.

[@dykodesigns]

The little gate in the motorroom that leads into the shaft looks to have some device attached to the wall. I’ll bet it’s a safety switch to kill the power to the motor if the engineer forgot to turn the lift off.

[@Lift.Tracker]

Oh, yeah. You're right. I thought at first it was just something to stop the gate from opening the wrong way, but it probably is a switch of some sort.

[@luckynick_]

Yes, it's a safety switch. But it has the switch connected normally open (it closes the circuit by acting it) and it can be bypassed with a cable tie. It would be made more safe if it was connected normalli closed and actuated (breaking the safety circuit) by opening the shaft gate.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

You're exactly right - you can hear a relay activate when it's opened - stops the lift from running.

[@LondonAndSouthEastTransport]

Awesome!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thanks!

[@southern.spotter]

Epic as always

[@riche4you1975]

I used to live buy the express lift tower in Northampton, you would have loved it in there when it was operational.

[@Lift.Tracker]

Cool! What did the surrounding areas of tower used to be? It’s a housing estate now isn’t it? Were there factories surrounding the tower before?

[@riche4you1975]

@@Lift.Tracker Yes they would test the express lifts in the tower like a test center for the motors ect www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/express-lift-test-tower/32600 secound pic down is how it used to look late 80s ish.

[@GetLifty]

Wow this video was amazing! The atmosphere was super spooky, and now im in the mood to see some express lifts! (Hopefully it wont be hard considering I live on the doorstep of their birthplace)

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thanks GetLifty! My favourite part is the Express Lift cabinet fade in at 2:06 - turned out really cool! Might be worth trying to get you a visit to the National Lift tower? What do you think?

[@GetLifty]

@@mrmattandmrchay I've attempted emailing the owners about popping along during the monthly abseil a few times, they always bump off the email with a short "your question has been escalated to Blank" though. However, I am gonna keep trying!

[@GetLifty]

@@Lift.Tracker I've only found 1 that is fully original working, the rest have had logic or button modernization. Though there is a few shut off or damaged ones dotted around mayorhold and the shopping centre

[@GetLifty]

@@Lift.Tracker unfortunately no. I don't think the owners like the idea of random people poking around the lift.

[@ArthursLiftAdventures]

Awesome video

[@petrawolff5641]

Fantastisch Video 😍👍💋💋💋💋

[@passacaglia28]

Entertaining as always!!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

thanks

[@DanielMeakin1]

Fantastic video I'm sad that I missed it live but nevermind

[@mrmattandmrchay]

No worries! I won't hold it against you lol :)

[@DanielMeakin1]

@@mrmattandmrchay ha

[@jess.hawkins]

Funny that for what seems to be such an old example, bits of the HV wiring (the green tubes which I assume are capacitors shown at 7:15) are done in the "new" colours from BS7671, i.e. brown, blue (black, grey)...

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Those caps are for "Arrival bell smoothing capacitors" I believe! I think that'll just be coincidence that those where the colours chosen - it was probably a common and easily available colour at the time (i.e. cheaper)

[@jess.hawkins]

@@mrmattandmrchay Thanks for the info about the capacitors. Your explanation for the wiring colours certainly is plausible. Blue+Brown has been standard for flex cabling for a lot longer than fixed wiring, so the common availability point makes total sense. I'm not an electrician, but I don't think BS7671 mandates the wiring colours for use *inside* appliances or machinery itself just fixed wiring. I may be totally wrong with that assumption!

[@peterlomas984]

@@jess.hawkins You are quite correct with that assumption.

[@BurnedNoodle]

yes

[@lbsiuk]

Sorry, I missed the premiere. This video has more effort put into it than some films!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

You're too kind LB!

[@douro20]

Building been abandoned?

[@Petertronic]

Excellent, good atmosphere. How lucky to be able to get a good look around this one. I wonder what the circular thing on the wall is, to the right of the main power switch?

[@Lift.Tracker]

I think it's possibly a replacement flywheel. The thing you would spin to make the lift move up or down if there was no power.

[@ag6371]

That is a hand winding wheel that attaches to the motor for manually moving the elevator up or down in case of a power outage

[@ag6371]

@@Lift.Tracker Schindler permanently attached the hand winding wheel to their motors to make them run smoothly

[@ElevatorExploration]

Hi mrmattandmrchay, Question, is this elevator in an abandoned building or not? because I also filmed 5 Schindler elevators in an abandoned building in Switzerland, but my video will be on my channel in a long time. Otherwise nice video :D

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Hi EE, sorry, I don't have that information. It's not in an abandoned building though. BTW, that's a nice caged elevator on your channel... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqDReWiMhNiobsk

[@ElevatorExploration]

@@mrmattandmrchayYes I think it's a nice modernization.

[@EEverything360]

It's been a while since you uploaded.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

yup, which is why I do these part 1's and part 2's - gives me time to edit the next part. The next video is one of those that takes AGES to edit. I'm also busy at work at the moment, so that means I haven't had a lot of time recently. However, it is progressing.

[@EEverything360]

@@mrmattandmrchay I can't wait!

[@MichalM]

Now I cannot wait for this video, looks amazing! I would love for the same to happen with a certain Furse we've not been able to get in to.

[@mr.struppi9903]

Mr Matt, have you worked with Express Lifts like this one before?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

I'm not actually a lift engineer. I am an engineer, but in a different industry. However, I did go for a job interview with Express Lifts, but this was back in about 1988. If I were in the lift industry, then I wouldn't really be able to post videos about my job, employers don't like it! Hence the disappearance of a few channels where the guy was actually a lift engineer doing his normal job.

[@trissimusslos4722]

Can you explain how a lift with a motor on the bottom of the shaft works?

[@EmersonCapuano]

What happened to this lifit that took it off?

[@ag6371]

7:47 That's the low speed choke that connects to one of the contactors

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Exactly! Was difficult to explain the whole thing in a one-liner in the video. Might do it next video though

[@peterlomas984]

53 Contactor.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

@@peterlomas984 Definately going to focus on that relay! In fact, I filmed all the relays in operation - just have to transform the video into something interesting to watch!

[@testplayer564_offtopic6]

Scary haunted......

[@georgieippolito9924]

can you please take some videos of ski lift motor rooms too? I'm curious how the newer ones work from the inside where you go slow at the base but once you leave the base it starts to go really fast then slow down at the end while its constantly running. I also would like to see some really old ski lift motor rooms too but I'm really curious on how the fast ones work. I herd it picks up the chair off the cable while your riding it and places it on a different cable that goes faster to make you go fast. I would like to see the machanics on how that works. if you can film that it would be fantastic!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Hi George, I share your interest here. I've also wondered about the low speed and high speed cables that these lifts take. There are a few on youtube, but for me, I do not have any access into these types of rooms. So unless I happen to 'get lucky' then it's not going to happen, and I do not have any skiing holidays booked either :/

[@TechNerdNolan]

Hopefully this won’t get modernized soon as it’s a 1st gen Express...

[@Lift.Tracker]

I think it's a second generation one, however, I'm not sure if ''1st, 2nd and 3rd generartion Express'' are official terms, or if someone just made them up.

[@peterlomas984]

What's a 1st generation Express?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

@@peterlomas984 haha, the names that we make up here on KZbin! It's like the Siren video - so many people refer to like, "Siren F" and I'm here thinking - "I" made up that!

[@Lift.Tracker]

@@peterlomas984 They are just made up names for the different types. What are the official names to determine which model they are?

[@peterlomas984]

@@Lift.Tracker There are none.

[@sandippatel2472]

Sir , u don't have any fear? If it is faulty or something, you started and something will happen? Like electrocuted or something?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Hi, thanks for your comment. There are plenty of devices incorporated into the design of the controller that would 'trip' and stop power flowing should there be a fault or overload. Risk of electrocution, yes, indeed, but only if you touch something that is live. The worst that would have happened would be, switch on, something goes bang and a fuse or overload device would activate to cut the power - as long as you're careful and understand what you can and cannot touch, all good :)

[@sandippatel2472]

Thanks for the reply, great work sir....

[@oreoofficial97]

That guy touched my oreos

[@oreoofficial97]

Nooooo my oreos lol

[@oreoofficial97]

Finr

[@oreoofficial97]

Fine

[@oreoofficial97]

Lol

[@titony554]

Amazing video !!! But one question. I see on the top of car otis inspection box. The controller? Is it otis relays ? Never see that controller and door operator Door operator is like very old otis ..... Very nice video !!

[@Lift.Tracker]

The inspection control box was replaced because the old one no longer meets the regulations. Everything else is Express. :-)

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Well put! And thanks for compliment Anthony

[@texfax]

At 10:13 we can see the wire rope clamps holding the cabin. Is this a common type of termination? Or was it at the time? I'm asking because as far as I know, this type of clamp is not allowed in lifting operations. A plug lock or wedge lock should be used instead. Do you have any information on this topic?

[@pordzio]

I suspect this was exactly the reason why this lift was taken out of operation

[@peterlomas984]

It is a common termination in the industry.

[@texfax]

@@millomweb Thank you for your answer. I actually meant "lifting operation" as carrying a load, in contrast to e.g. guying.

[@peterlomas984]

@@millomweb A very sensible and accurate answer to a genuine question from somebody who is not from the lift industry .

[@peterlomas984]

@@pordzio ?

[@Bombiedude.]

Well the easiest way you can answer the question does it work it simply just pressing the button and seeing if the indicator lights come on

[@rose-ey6ct]

That's not an old Express Lift. An old Express Lift will have an SMS badge on it. Thus: "Smith, Major & Stevens, Lift Manufacturers". It will also have a slate, open control backboard with a chain drive from the gearbx shaft to the panel. This drives the acceleration contacts of the DC motor driving it. The lift you are showing is, in relative terms, modern.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

SMS merged with The Express Lift Company in 1930. elevation.fandom.com/wiki/Express_Lift. The slate controllers and chain driven floor selector you are refering to date back to the early 1900s like this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpTVqn2wqMSFhqM - this one was 1905. This lift in this video is from around 1970, which is 50 years old. How you wish to interprete an 'old lift' is up to the individual. I mean, what's old? 20 years, 50, 100? 50 years is good enough for me to call it old. I'm sure I'd get loads of contradictory comments if I called this a modern lift!

[@lifttube6011]

What editing program do you use?

[@Lift.Tracker]

I believe it’s Adobe Premier.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Correct :)

[@ezequielaugustodelcastillo6467]

Hello! 7:17 - 7:18, kind of resistors? Thanks! great great channel

[@CWM030]

But, you never explained, why was the elevator cut off in the first place?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Sorry, I've no information on that.

[@TheAconic]

Can you send the link to the music at the start not the intro Thanks

[@Jaro_Cat]

Hello everyone

[@andyhill242]

I thought you were a lift engineer.

[@little_vampy]

Ok is even kijken hoeveel Nederlandse kijkers er op deze video zitten

[@elevatorfilmersg]

Dear mrmattandmrchay, I have a friend who is planning to write an email to the management of a building which is going to close to ask for parts of the soon to be decommissioned and demolished lifts, as well as a lift motor room tour. The lifts in the building include high rise and almost completely original 1975 vintage lifts (serving up to 37 floors!) and are extremely rare and one of a kind in Singapore, so we just had to document as much of it as possible and get some parts as memories for it. Seeing how you have been successful in requesting for lift motor room tours and parts could you please tell me how you normally compose emails to request for them? Thanks!

[@elevatorfilmersg]

Never mind, my friend has already sent the email. Hope that there would be a positive response from the building manager

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Hiya, sorry I didn't reply. Work has kicked off big time - very busy at the moment. In short, there is no rule as to what to put. But one big factor is age! If you are like, 12 years old then it's VERY unlikely to happen. In my experience in the UK, if I send 100 emails, 50 will not even reply (even with repeated emails) or never get forwarded to the right person, 25 will say "due to health and safety the answer is no", 15 will say yes but then later say 'no' when too many people get involved, then the remaining 10% will say yes. I've written long emails, short emails, "to the point" emails, nothing seems to make any difference. It would seem, WHATEVER I put in the email seems to make no difference. But as soon as the site turns into a construction site, then it becomes EVEN MORE likely they will not reply, or just say no. Construction workers are there for one purpose, construction! It's very unlikely they will go out of their way to show you around a construction site. The only way to ever get into motor rooms is 1) To know someone in the company (or maintenance guy) that would go out of his way to show you, 2) Get lucky that the person receiving the email shares your interest and will accomodate you. But as soon as too many people get involved, then someone somewhere will say no. At the end of the day, the bottom line is - "IF" you were to get injured then it would be the company that is liable because they allowed you in - that's a risk that most people are not willing to take. Here is one email that I wrote: ############# To Mr XXXXX, Firstly, I respect that this is an unusual request, but I hope not to waste too much of your time! I am 45 year old and work as a technical engineer. I originally worked for a company called XXXXX who maintained your town centre XXXX system in the 2000s. This query is not related to XXXX or even my current company. Before I ask, just to let you know that I understand Health and Safety, PPE, permits, etc. I have a big interest in older technology lifts. The lifts at XXXX are made by a company called XXXX from the 1980s (quite rare!). I am asking for permission to be escorted to the machine room to take some photographs. Normally, this would be with a building manager, or member of your maintenance team. I have done this many times in the past with Lift Engineers (as part of my work - i.e. XXXX) and building managers. I’ve also had this interest since a kid, so I’m very familiar with this environment (I’ve been into hundreds of motor rooms). But this is not a factor as I will simply be observing the room in its current state with someone supervising me. I’m hoping that this visit will not take up too much time for anyone as it essentially involves someone opening up the locked hatch on the top floor and will take no more than 15 minutes. Please let me know if this would be possible to arrange, perhaps with a caretaker? Many thanks for your consideration. ############### After that, depending who shows me around, then I say "can I take some video" and if the guy is friendly enough then we can start to do a bit more - all depends on who the person is. On one occasion it was "just to take photos" then he shut the door and I left. Other times I am there hours filming! From the above request, I was actually DENIED, but due to a cock-up someone else replied and said yes, but when I arrived they thought I was a lift engineer and let me in anyway (I even explained who I was, but the guy who let me in wasn't bothered! He just had a job to do). Good luck!

[@elevatorfilmersg]

mrmattandmrchay alright, appreciate the time you took to write this reply! I will send this to my friend if they have yet to reply and perhaps he might follow this format if he decides to send them another email.

[@elevatorfilmersg]

mrmattandmrchay I Guess you were indeed lucky that you were able to see the lift motor room there!

[@mr.struppi9903]

I‘ve got another question, where is the Controlbox for the front door? Does ist has ohne?

[@Colaholiker]

The relays for the front door are likely in the main cabinet.

[@BurkenProductions]

Damn cliffhanger... won't come back and watch the next part then ...:(

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Unfortunately these videos do no edit themselves. This one took 3 weeks. Part 2 is being edited, but that too could take another 2 weeks. In the meantime, I've got other videos which I need to activate before part 2 is done. @Lift tracker is exactly right, I can only edit one video at the time. So I either edit the whole thing and make a mega long video of about 25 minutes (which in my opinion is way too long) but you'd be waiting 1-2 months before you see any content on my channel - not good for business. Or I do them in halves like this one, then decide where part 1 ends and part 2 starts. Sorry about that, but it's the way it goes - I have a job, family, and youtube is a hobby. Anyway, I hope that all makes sense and you do decide to come back and watch part 2, but unless someone pays me a monthly salary that takes care of the mortgage and living expenses, then editing movies is not going to be my full time job :)

[@josef596]

4th

[@theeyum]

3rd!!!!

[@MiamiMillionaire]

👍

[@ArthursLiftAdventures]

Awesome video