Really old SCREW FACTORY LIFT - everything explained (inc motor room)

[@CentiZen]

Nothing get me more excited than hearing a mrmattandmrchay video start with "Here we have an unusual lift"

[@mrmattandmrchay]

haha! Yes, I really only film stuff that "I" finding interesting, and I hope my viewers will also! Hope I've exceeded expectations here!

[@patricksingh9069]

Fr tho

[@whatevernamegoeshere3644]

Slip ring motors with start and break resistors with time control was so hi-tech in 1940 but now it's crazy to imagine the entire control circuit of that whole machine room would fit in a shoe box sized VFD with a built-in PLC driving a single motor... I remember we rebuilt a machine at a factory that started its life in the 70s in a similar working principle and the 1m3 sized cabinet with resistors and over a dozen 130A contactors were just switched to a single VFD... It was crazy to see that transformation.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Totally agree with you! Even back in about 2000, saw an Otis engineer fixing an old Otis with DC-generators and he remembered that this was a flag-ship lift of Otis, massive noisy motor room full of interesting stuff. Nowadays, all you need is a little room above the lift and a cabinet beside the lift!

[@henrybowden9907]

I served my apprenticeship with Otis Elevators in the early '70s and solid state was being introduce by the end of my time. I've never seen anything like that lift before. Schindler lifts were regarded as the 'Rolls Royce' of lifts at that time. A fascinating look at a novelty which wouldn't pass Health and Safety nowadays if it was in Britain. Thankyou for making the video.

[@SPS8elevatorsoflakecounty]

Hi, would I be able to ask you a couple questions about Otis relay logic? Its not often I encounter somebody who worked on elevators/lifts back then.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you very much for the comment Henry. I was indeed an unusual lift, designed and built for a purpose back in the day!

[@Brianmech72]

I absolutely love this old machinery. I’m looking forward to more. May this lift live a long life beyond what it has already lived.

[@EdGreenberg]

What a fabulous bit of mechanical madness! One thing that made this personal to me is that I used to work in the screw machine industry. I worked in a warehouse filled with 12 foot (approx 3.6m) steel round and hexagon bars. They had diameters that ranged from less than 1/8 in (3.175mm) to greater than two and a half inches (63.5mm). They looked just like the bundle of steel bars that was shown in the video. We would lift these bundles up with an overhead crane and set them on flatbed trucks. I didn't see any equipment that would have moved such bundles into the lift, with perhaps it was removed when the building was converted to its current use.

[@SamSitar]

I want to see that lift in person.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Excellent comment and thank you very much for writing it. Yes, 1940 (or even 1917 according to the drawing) is a long time for things to change considerably.

[@TheLiftDragon]

Again an absolutely excellent and super detailed video! Really appreciate your excellent work. This lift is truly fascinating and absolutely unique in every way. I hope it will still last for a long time and that the employees treat it carefully. Love the letters mentioning this, written in the local Swiss dialect.

[@LovSven2011]

Fascinating mechanical stops. So simple, but genious!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Yes, wonder how much time it took to adjust those stops to perform in exactly the right position! Or perhaps, all you need to do is put the car at the top/bottom, and move the stops all the way to the bar. In this case, quite easy!

[@dykodesigns]

That’s a special lift! I’ve never seen a cab configuration like this before but the original use of the building makes it a logical choice. It’s very bespoke, you often don’t get custom engineering like this anymore but when you get, you get something that is taylor made. This one of those instances where the architect understood the logistics of a specific factory building and crafted a solution with the lift engineers to create a unique solution that fits like a glove for the operations of that factory and products it made. This is one of those cases where money is no object because it probably would have been somewhat expensive to built. It feels more like a piece of manufacturing equipment in it’s design approach rather then just an off the shelf lift design.

[@whatevernamegoeshere3644]

Seen a similar one in regards of the cab but it was 4x2 meters instead of 1x6. It was in the Telekom HQ in my city in the "technological wing" and it was used to move large pieces of equipment from HVAC to phone switchboard modules. It had no internal doors, doors on both sides and worked in a similar fashion just more modern. It recently had IR gates installed on both sides to prevent pinching. The problem was similar and thus the solution was similar.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Indeed! And it's so cool that they kept it running all this time! Stuff from this age, you could probably make replacement parts when they break, and engineers in switzerland seem to be more accomodating to repair lifts like this, rather than say "too old, needs replacing" like they do in the UK!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

@whateverynamegoeshere3644 Excellent!

[@RODALCO2007]

That is a unique lift with these large doors, and a perfect explanation why. The limit switches are of course very well explained. The resistor switch out mechanism is very cool. Great quality motor to last from 1940 onwards and even before that period. Thanks for making the video.

[@Petertronic]

A very unique lift, amazing video, every angle of the machinery was covered! Good of them to give this access for filming it.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Better to film too much, that too little! I always go well prepared, 3 different cameras, video lights, power banks, memory cards! I always say, if "I" don't find the video interesting, I don't upload it! Thanks for the comment.

[@M-mj8bd]

I really enjoyed this. Reminds me of a ancient elevator at a friend's loft. Eventually it broke down and he couldn't afford to fix it. At that point we resorted to sending someone up to the motor room where we would call up to them the instructions. Up a bit, Down a bit, way to far, and any other swearing required! They would have to manually actuate the contactors with a drumb stick. I always laughed and simultaneously feared for safety. Also it was a chore to get it lined up correctly with the floor so the doors would open. I'll bet that old elevator is sitting broken to this day.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Nowadays, an engineer would condemn it, and it'd never work again! I did once use a discarded cigarette as a stick to push in live relays!! Drum-stick was probably better though!

[@dirkmaronn]

So eine wundervolle alte Anlage. Das war noch langlebige und beständige Technik 🙏♥️🌹 Vielen Dank für das interessante Video.

[@colindaniels3086]

Excellent video on a fascinating piece of engineering, thank you for taking the time and effort to produce it. Impressive that despite its age it is still very functional and operational, a credit to the original designer and the quality of the components used.

[@Shade_Tree_Mechanic]

Wow, thank you for showcasing and explaining that beautiful piece of engineering

[@Lighting_Desk]

I love the aesthetics of electronics back then.

[@lbsiuk]

Excellent video as always Matt - you’re one of the few creators where I don’t feel the need to skip ahead to get past a boring part of a video, because yours don’t have them!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Love comments like this, it makes all the time and effort worth it! I do spend a lot of time "proofing" the video - I watch it, criticise it, export, rewatch it, etc. This video was export number 9 I think, before I was happy! Part of that process I'm always thinking, "maybe this bit is too long", "not interesting enough", etc!! Thanks once again!

[@alanrkanter]

Best descriptive video of a lift / elevator on YT

[@366craigsmith]

Smart piece of Engineering, very clever for it's time - it was interesting to see the inner workings with all the mechanical parts - thanks.

[@antharro]

Another quality mrmattandmychay video. :)

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you very much! How are you these days? Still London?

[@mfbfreak]

That thing sounds so nice.

[@archmcdonald6170]

The technology of the 40's amassed me. Thanks for the video.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thanks for the comment, I too love old machinery like this - all mechanical.

[@don1857]

I love these old controllers, the modern Kone and others are just boring boxes with blinky lights. I am surprised there is no over speed safety brake. Great video!

[@EmmanuelGorand]

What a beautiful old machinery ! Thank you very much for your great explanations and animations 👌🏻

[@mrmattandmrchay]

And thank you very much for the nice comment.

[@caroleast9636]

Fascinating in many ways. Those doors are potentially very dangerous but, as the lift seems to only be operated by staff that know it well, then it carries on hopefully safely. That car is very strange proportions.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Indeed it does! Very strange shape, but designed for a purpose back when the factory was set up.

[@binarydinosaurs]

I thought Paternoster lifts were interesting but this one takes it to, ahem, a whole new level. Nicely done, Mr Matt.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you! I do have a very old Paternoster video coming up! It's not in use, but was powered up especially for us - we filmed that too!

[@binarydinosaurs]

Oh yes :D Looking forward to it.

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

Really amazing. I am a fan of old lifts. During my apprenticeship we had a goods lift with hydraulics. It was slow and supposed to be used by goods only but we rode it all the time. Till one day the oil leaked out and the repair was so expensive they put a key lock onto it. Sadly i missed riding on the last Paternoster lift they had in use next to the Einstein House in Berne. Safety rules are still relatively lax in Switzerland. They do have a rigid concession system but do allow for the use beyond the design stage if considered safe.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thanks for the comment and interesting! And, I have a Paternoster coming up in a future video! - motor room, power up, everything!

[@leetucker9938]

really enjoyed this one .

[@mrmattandmrchay]

cool, thank you!

[@TheDiveO]

As someone from the "large canton" I also struggle to read that phonetic Schwizerdütsch

[@mrmattandmrchay]

haha!! I had someone else decode what it meant, before my wife read it out!

[@Richardincancale]

What a beauty! I’m glad you were able to organise a ‘party’ in a brewery!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

haha, I think we were in the way of that party though! Everyone thought we were screwing around with the lift :D

[@SteveWhiteEEAMPS]

Excellent video! Thanks to you, I was able to fully understand this elevator's logic and operation.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Cool, thank you very much for the nice comment Steve.

[@markandsuriyonphanasonkath8768]

GREAT video - THANK YOU for your efforts, brilliant! You have again (possibly unknowingly), shown the world that mechanical, without "stupid, expensive, unreliable", is the very best! Same as new cars, they are rubbish, NEVER keep a new car after its warranty / guarantee, you will "cut a hole in your pocket" to keep it going. Please keep up your terrific work! Best regards, expat Australian engineer

[@DaveB-e8m]

Another fascinating video, 1940’s technology and still going strong. Love the videos, well put together & well explained.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Just the type of comment that makes everything worth it, and thank you :)

[@MAR_24LookedAtYourVid]

You know its a good day when MrMattandMrChay posts

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you very much :)

[@debrainwasher]

There is a wrong statement about slip ring motors. When ordinary induction motors start up, the cage represents shorted windings of a thee-phase transformer. Because nothing is moving to take the power, the inrush-current is only limited by the winding's resistance. That can not only blow the fuses, but damage the motor's windings and even a stall is possible due to magnetic core saturation and heating. Larger motors can not use a Y-Delta-Switch, because the winding resistance is still too low. Therefore, the squirrel-cage of a slip-ring-motor doesn't have three internal short-circuits, but the three parts os the cage are connected in a Y-configuration and the three legs are connected to three slip-rings, where the brushes are connected to another three resistors in a Y-circuit. This way, the resistor values limit the inrush current, according to Ohm's law. After the motor has been moving, the resistors are shorted. Therefore electrical power is converted to mechanical power and the winding currents drop to designed values.

[@davidg3944]

Thanks for the clarification! As someone more "mechanically inclined" it's helpful to see electricity-related corrections in comments.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you for the comment, read it, going to read it again tomorrow to fully understand :)

[@MichalM]

9:31 Amazing motor sound! Interesting two chain system - never seen that before!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Yes, it's very unique isn't it? More materials, more cogs and supports, but must have been done for a reason.

[@LucasTheTechCollector]

Excellent and informative video as per the usual. Thank you! What purpose does that bulb/lamp serve next to the floor selector? Is it just an indicator lamp or is it acting as a current limiter of some sort?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thanks Lucas for the nice comment. The lamp is simply to show the lift is in use - either the doors are open, or it's travelling. I'm guessing when it's not lit, an engineer can safely switch off the lift without affecting anyone in the lift (or the lamps blown haha!)

[@LucasTheTechCollector]

@@mrmattandmrchay Thanks for the reply. I'd hate to be the engineer that discovers the lamp is blown, "the hard way", lol!

[@TheTreegodfather]

Excellent video 👏🏻

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you! 👍

[@StrawberrySunday212]

Made back in a time when things were built to last.

[@ryanomalley430]

That’s really cool! It’s age reminds me of elevators in a building downtown in my city that were from 1925 and manually operated. One was a freight elevator and the other was a passenger elevator that had a fold out operator seat and art deco brass grilles around the top and bottom of the car. I believe they were made by gurney elevator.

[@SPS8elevatorsoflakecounty]

8:50 I have seen similar devices on old Otis winding drum machines from the 1900s-1910s back in the states. However these were connected by gears to a set of relays mounted directly above, and there was also a small counterweight attached to the end of a chain that would move up or down as the device was rotated by the drive gear.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

I think I've seen something similar on your channel somewhere? If you have a link, please post here and I'll approve it.

[@SPS8elevatorsoflakecounty]

@@mrmattandmrchay let me have a look, the particular one I’m remembering I sadly didn’t get the chance to get a video of, but I think there may be something similar shown on my channel since I’ve filmed a few other drum machines.

[@jshawbitter]

Fantastic video well done

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you!

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

0:12 Terminator noises.

[@WOFFY-qc9te]

Schindlers Lift good name for a film. Sorry couldn't resist. Another interesting and well edited video, thank you. Have you thought about the Anderton Boat Lift at Northwhich England. Your animation would show the original hydraulic plant (replace with Electric motors and counterbalances). to it best Also the Mersey railway Wadsworth lifts at Hamilton Square Birkenhead.

[@gabotron94]

twist: it's just Schindler's List but all the dialogue is spoken with a lisp

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you for the nice comment! And the answer to your question is no, I'm going to have to research them as I'm not aware of them...

[@mathewbailey6718]

I've been in & used an old Otis 2 story AC geared traction elevator with scissor gate & swinging outer doors. Later, space guards were installed on the inside of the swinging doors. It was pushbutton,I believe 2 to 1 roping, single speed,220 volts single phase 60 hz with a 4 1/2 hp motor.

[@christopher-2000]

awesome lift video

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you Christopher!

[@pantherplatform]

I had no idea I'd wind up working for a retired NYC elevator mechanic in East Rutherford at 22. There are some really old elevators there.

[@TonyVRailfanning]

Interesting, with the width of the lift being so wide I would assume that the weight inside the car would need to be somewhat evenly distributed such that you dont cause the one side to twist?

[@torsten9530]

Very cool and interesting :-)

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thank you :)

[@matthewmiller6068]

That's neat. Tho poking the relays with a bare finger makes me a bit nervous!

[@urglegurgle5807]

Looking forward to the full feature length version; “Schindler’s Lift”.

[@robert45685]

Can I use this chains for my bicycle?

[@R.Daneel]

No "Schindler's Lift" jokes? Also, when I read the title, I was expecting a lift running on a giant screw thread like a 3D printer. This was plenty interesting, though!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Well, unfortunately it's a common joke and I think very video I do with Schindler has this comment somewhere lol! :)

[@jamest.5001]

So if the lift chain broke. In theory the lift could go up insted of falling? Or is the lift heavier than the counterweight?

[@pacr4]

I've been following you now for a very long time and love your videos but I was mesmerized by this one omg such.a lovely old lift and still working, thanks for the work you put into making it Just a question ❓ in these days of health and safety do any old fashioned what I call cage lifts exist anymore where you open and shut the doors manually and you can see the lift shaft through the doors? Best regards to you both Paul Adams Worcester Park in Surrey

[@SeanBZA]

Yes they still exist, grandfathered in, though generally not in public access buildings, because the building owners know just how bad people are at reading, and that there are a large number who are that stupid as to get themselves injured in one.

[@dieseldragon6756]

I haven't been there in years so things might've changed in the meantime, but the lift in _Claire's_ department store in Llandudno _used_ to be the cage type, and had manually operated gates. Many older apartment blocks in Spain and Italy still have these in place too, and many older industrial sites - Though not _cage_ lifts - Do tend to have big-ass freight lifts with manually operated doors weighing over a ton. Back when Nuclear Electric (Latterly BNFL/Magnox) used to permit tours of their power stations, those going around Wylfa (Now undergoing decommissioning) used the freight lifts at either end of the main reactor building to travel between entry and control room levels. These things had a S.W.L. of at least 10,000kg to them (Probably just as well, considering how overweight I've always been! 😋) and manual gates each at least 6m by 4m. You wouldn't believe the shock people had when they saw a 12 year old opening them with barely any effort, though remembering these were well made so good engineering took most of the weight off my hands! 👍

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thanks for the nice comment @pacr4, it looks like others have answered your question :) I would say, any company coming across such a lift would think "upgrade - money" rather than "lets keep this running!".

[@PhilippHager-dm5yt]

The sign is written in "Swiss German" which is different to German in many ways. In german the sign says:"Ich bin ein alter Lift und will noch lange leben. Bitte behandle mich fein. Türen nicht zuschlagen, das macht mich kaputt !"

[@mxslick50]

Amazing electro-mechanical tech that has outlived any of the so-called "better" technologies that have followed.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

I agree! Built to last

[@SamSitar]

short modern elevators should use chains. does basement rear open anymore?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

To be honest, we were so fixated on getting everything filmed, I didn't even see the rear doors! They probably still work, but we never tried them.

[@patricksingh9069]

0:00 looks like a Schindler life

[@inothome]

Great video but what about the braking system if the chain breaks? Looks like I almost saw some sort of outward expanding brake shoe but no real connection to the chain. For sure, (I'd hope) it does have some sort of braking system.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Good question. All lifts/elevators had some kind of brake, since the invention of the safety brake by Elijah Otis. However, I did not see anything here (must be there though, surely!?!)

[@inothome]

@@mrmattandmrchay Exactly, I did see something on the underside that may have been connected by bellcrank to chain. But wasn't too clear, but I am sure there is a brake on it, like you said.

[@PlaywithJunk]

It's Swiss-German. I doubt Google Translate can handle that. 🙂

[@mrmattandmrchay]

it didn't lol!

[@VintageLiftLad]

They must've had a screw loose to think of a design like this ;)

[@andydurbs]

The lack of safety guards both mechanical and electrical 🤯

[@teoteuteburg9369]

I love this dialect on the sign in Germany we call it platt Deutsch

[@mrmattandmrchay]

haha! :)

[@denisohbrien]

I feel like you missed a point about the double chain system. In the event if 1 chain failing atleast theres something still counterweighting the car ao whether it falls up or down its going to do so with a littlw more grace than it would with just one chain. Seong as there doesnt appear to be any brake like a modernish cable lift would have that actuates on cable faulure

[@dieseldragon6756]

Y'know...That also answers my question about why both chains are attached at the centre of the car rather than each being attached at one end. In the situation you propose, suspension from the centre will give a smoother and safer controlled descent. 👍 And when thinking about it; With this being one of very few - If not the only - Lift in the world with a car so wide compared to its depth and height, conventional approaches are probably better to keep to given the extremely unusual nature of this installation. 😇

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Yes, interesting point! If the small chain broke, then the lift would decent slower as the CW is quite small. The large chain however (which does more work, going around so many sprockets), it would stop to an extent but would still fall fairly quickly i reckon.

[@janosnagyj.9540]

Once a factory, now a freakin' pub / restaurant. This is what happened to the industry in Europe... If at least the building is still standing, it's rotting / became a techno pub or something like that, but the activity once made there is long gone...

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Times move on, but I suppose this was a long time ago, not sure when the screw factory finally closed though.

[@fullraph]

What does the bulb do?

[@janosnagyj.9540]

LIGHT. 🤓😅

[@mrmattandmrchay]

It's simply to show the lift is in an active state (and not idle). If the doors are open, or the lift is travelling.

[@langr752]

3:52 i’m pausing it here at the two counterweight part and I’ll make a prediction.. well two predictions. 1. The two sets of counterweights account for the lift loaded with metal versus just people and 2. The whole center lift chain thing is to prevent sagging of the car… OK lets see if I’m right

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Uhm, not sure that's right :)

[@pdrg]

The shape of the shaft might be because it was retrofitted in the space of a staircase of some sort?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Well, you never know! But the building would have had to have been built before 1917 for that to be the case and not sure it's 'that' old. Good idea though, and possible.

[@kennethjohnson4280]

Google translate (which sucks) was giving me trouble and just out put gibberish. Chat GPT translated: "lg bin ä alte Lift u wot no lang läbe. Bitte tue mi fyn behandle tüürä nid schletze, das macht mi kaputt!" and came up with "I’m an old elevator and can’t take it for long. Please treat me kindly. Don’t slam the doors; it drives me crazy!"

[@lucasthings]

wow! where is it in?

[@hi-yl2tc]

In an old screw factory

[@gabotron94]

Somewhere in Switzerland I gather

[@lucasthings]

@@hi-yl2tc where in the uk?

[@Richardincancale]

@@lucasthingsSwitzerland!

[@lucasthings]

Oh didnt notice lmao, i wonder where the exact location and town​@@Richardincancale

[@alphawolffurry-t8r]

can you come back to sirens pleeeeeeease

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

When you hear the sireen, you'll know he's not mumblin!

[@5Breaker]

In that lift you better not screwing around.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Oh nice one haha!! :D

[@carloslaube]

Schindler

[@m.rei85]

The lift is German made, and the factory used to be German. Is there a little more on the history of that place?

[@H2Oredfirefox]

Mechanical equipment built back in the old days was made to last not like a lot of stuff nowadays it's well fails to easily🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Yep, 84 years and still going!

[@l337pwnage]

Sure is well lubed and maintained, cuz, well, German 😁

[@syntaxerorr]

These are over here making some youtube.

[@OLIBAHN475]

Die Schild hatte "Plattdeutsch" geschreiben.

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

Huh huh...

[@EATSLEEPDRIVE2002]

anyone else irrationally annoyed that it's called a screw lift and run entirely on chains😂

[@stefanomodena3550]

Screw 1940 / Factory lift

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Was very difficult to do that title anyother way ;) Except without the chain coming down, but wanted to keep that.

[@b43xoit]

If it is called a slip-ring motor, it probably is one.

[@Look_What_You_Did]

Talk american.

[@dieseldragon6756]

There's at least *two* sorts of unusual in this: Not only the _type_ of Aufzug in question, but that you were _allowed to stand on top of the car_ whilst filming the shaft-top equipment! The latter might sound odd, but this *is* Germany we're talking about! 🛗🇩🇪📜😋 _Vielen Dank für eine Wünderbares kino mehr!_ 🛗💯❤👍

[@fmb64]

It's Switzerland

[@mrmattandmrchay]

As per @fmb64, this is indeed Switzerland. Of all the places we went, the H&S was very relaxed compared to here in the UK or possibly Germany.

[@dieseldragon6756]

@@mrmattandmrchay Ah...I got the impression it might be _close_ to Switzerland, but didn't realise it was _so_ close to the Swiss border it was outside the EU! 😁 IIUC in Germany you would need all sorts of certifications to be allowed to stand atop a lift car under any circumstance (Evacuations excepted, under competent supervision) - I mean; Germany is about the only country I know where law means you *aren't* allowed to cross the road against a red light even if the way is genuinely clear and there isn't a moving vehicle within a 500m radius! 📜🇩🇪😇 (And that law is so strongly ingrained in most persons of German identity that it even governs my actions when using pedestrian crossings in the UK...And I hold a British passport! 🤣)

[@Irilia_neko]

Great video, I'm still surprised they aren't forced to have an inside door for the security of the employees 🤔

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Now, that would be a challenge!! Not sure it'd be possible.