The lifts inside the historic Tea Building - London

Lots of original fixtures and fittings, but inevitably the lifts have been modernised. But modernised in a NICE way! - good effort!
To read more about the historic Tea Building, see here:
teabuilding.co.uk/history.html
Note - My first video filmed with my new GoPro Hero7 Black.

[@themaconeau]

This modernization was tastefully done, with an industrial feel added or maintained. Its as if they didn't skimp on cost and actually did it properly. Modern, yet retains old world charm elements. I quite like it, actually. :)

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Yeah, I do like the buttons as well. They should have gone for 'warm' white LEDs rather than the ones they fitted. Warm white LEDs look more like conventional bulbs that the cold white ones. But I'll admit that I'm being VERY fussy here! lol

[@cockneyrebel2u]

Worked on these throughout 2017/2019 and can safely say i was glad to see the back of them.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Thanks for the comment. I'm assuming that you are a lift engineer. Oh, what was bad about them?

[@thewildeeper]

What an unusual setup! Thank you for sharing

[@secondbackwaterdivide]

The detailing around the passenger lift doors and call buttons is very interesting. It looks to be hot rolled steel with the mill scale still attached, but obviously treated so it won't rust. It's supposed to look 'raw' and evoke the industrial heritage feeling they were going for, (and it certainly does look the part, whoever was responsible has done a great job) but at the same time it's completely out of place. It must be incredibly expensive to make and maintain, with custom bending for all the parts, and the logistics of keeping the steel from rusting before manufacturing and then applying a durable varnish that doesn't take away from the look (of course, if the varnish wears through, the whole thing will have to be replaced). The bookmatched effect on the doors is a great touch too (although again it's additional effort), and overall it's a great look even if it does stand out like a sore thumb.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

I bet most of that was not an 'off the shelf' and it's been especially made. You're right, probably would have been expensive - if you look at the landing lanterns, this is not just a backlit unit (a light box), it has an 'up' and 'down' section. 4 lifts x 7 floors, yep, a fair bit of money has been spent here! Looks good though.

[@Waberner]

Happy smiley counterweight (goods lift) =D

[@uktv05]

3:42 Logic was replaced by Lester Controls Voice and they have still maintained the old fixtures and the lift is still original.

[@RediffusionMusic]

All these lovely fixtures, designs etc... and they put LESTER CONTROLS in.......??

[@dykodesigns]

Nice building, I like the steampunk design and feel to the fixtures. Really nice and original, looks like a bespoke design. Those buttons appear to be industrial buttons, something you normally find on a control panel inside a factory. The goods lift are nice and rough, they have some proper wear and “patina” on their wall panels.

[@SamSitar]

well used goods lifts are the best.

[@johnsidlauskas3838]

Since you like old lifts, and myself being addicted to this channel and watching many of your very fine videos, I saw that one of your favorite parts of the elevator was the old (ish) style selector. Since you are into old electronics I highly suggest you look into some of the products Gents of Leicester! They have many electromechanical products dating to the early part of electricity, I know this even being an "American" because I have a fascination with old Clocks, Phones, and Fire Alarms, all based off of eventually switches since thats how the tech was. I would love to see more! Keep up the great work and yes this comment is late, as if with many of my comments on videos lol.

[@ZZ9ProductionsOFFICIAL]

the mod itself looks good but that Lester controls voice just ruins it completely

[@millerfraser9362]

I agree.

[@ag6371]

True

[@ELPaso1990TX]

Would have been nice if they lined the interior of the lift cars in brass or copper with rivets like the lifts in Harrods.

[@idl3k_elev]

The two passenger lifts were originally Evans as well? At least the mod doesn't use those boring black Dewhurst buttons.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Perhaps. Wish I could find out what they were before, but that Evans sign is perhaps the only clue.

[@MichalM]

@@mrmattandmrchay It's strange as the door release for the goods lifts looks like an Otis Triangle one.

[@RonNewsham]

Fascinating. Interesting how the floor call is so detached (in another room) from the lift lobby, and how the goods lift doesn't quite fit the space. Love the floor indicators. Modern (laser cut?) but retro.

[@NZLifts]

Those call buttons look really nice but would be confusing for most people. Strange how there is only 1 call button for both directions too.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Yes, the call buttons from the upper levels initiate a DOWN call. So if you wanted to go from 5 to 7, you'd have to hope a lift arrives with no-one in it, so that you can press an upper button and the lift would change from 'going down' to 'going up'. But if you'd had a UP/DOWN for the passenger lifts and another UP/DOWN button for the goods, this would have been VERY confusing!!

[@Bombiedude.]

3:28 the only thing I like about the modded ones is how each number beside the floor buttons changes depending on the cabs position

[@Tjousk]

Nicely done indeed.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

thanks

[@Bombiedude.]

1:01 thats really cool you can actually select if you want to take a goods elevator/lift or a normal one

[@kentkirkpatrick7953]

Why did they not put windows on the backsides of them to let natural daylight in?! Plus the joy of watching the view as you ride!

[@isweariwillmurderevilowlso8985]

It's a goods lift and goods can't see

[@visualizesvn]

Thanks for uploading

[@DevonCornwallTransportVideos]

I'm going to London in July for a hoilday. Will be great to see what I can find interesting up there. Not really explored London much

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Not a lot in the centre of London that interests me anymore. As you probably know, I like the older generation of lifts. Mostly I come across 'what I'm after' when we have a customer in a building with a lift

[@leewakefield8658]

@@mrmattandmrchay If you are lucky you maybe able to get a tour of Aldwych underground station but they only do tours sporadically and they often sell out very quick. Aldwych station contains some original 1906 Otis lifts, sadly no longer functional though. I believe the lifts at Aldwych are the sole surviving examples of the type of lifts which would have been installed in most of the stations on the Piccadilly, Bakerloo and Northern lines when first built, many of these stations have been subsequently heavily modernised including replacement of lifts with escalators..

[@ELEVrjATOR]

That "goods lift" is cool. I like the scissor gate, you don't find those in the Americas!!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

yes, your freight lifts have vertical lifting door - very unusual to see that in the UK, although I think I prefer the vertical lifting doors

[@mrascensoreakakrisgames4149]

Theese lifts have been modded in a nice retro style! I like the buttons and indicator, it looks retro! Wish they used warm LED though, also before all 4 lifts where goods lifts from the early 1900's and Evans branded?

[@damianfilipczuk1208]

Super lifts. Like

[@mrmattandmrchay]

thanks

[@jess.hawkins]

This is right by Shoreditch High Street station isn't it? I recognise the area well, sometimes would come by this way when I worked in London!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

We have a customer in there, hence the video :)

[@GenericLifts]

The passenger lifts should have a window on the back and the goods lift should have mabey a birdcage on the back

[@mrmattandmrchay]

yes, that would certainly improve it, considering there is a window to the outside of the building. I guess that would have upped the costs too much.

[@jess.hawkins]

Also, looks like floors 6 and 7 are locked out for the goods lifts? Looks like those two shafts do have landings on them...

[@mrmattandmrchay]

It's strange! Both goods lifts go to the same floors, but the LH goods lift outer doors are locked (yellow 'fire-brigade key' padlock). Not sure why.

[@jess.hawkins]

@@mrmattandmrchay Are both goods lifts not serving floors 6 and 7? If so, I wonder why... Presumably the lifts are capable of going to those floors, but they've been locked out in the controller?

[@passacaglia28]

All "first" coments asside, these elevators look remarkable, even if they have been modernized on the inside!

[@SamSitar]

i want to ride them.

[@SamSitar]

looks like all 4 lifts were goods lifts earlier.

[@damianfilipczuk1208]

Such lifts are only in the UK.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

Nice! Any idea why the goods lift you rode wouldn't go above 5?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

I know, strange isn't it! If you look at the doors of the LH goods lift on the upper levels, it's locked, but I can see no reason why it would be - as the other lifts go up to all levels.

[@johndufton9686]

Can anyone walk in off the street and ride the lifts?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

There is a reception, so I suppose "officially" no, but from what I saw it was almost a 'free for all'. If you look the part then I suppose you'd get in

[@johndufton9686]

@@mrmattandmrchay Thanks I'll give it a look next visit to London.

[@rpg4264]

Nice finding

[@mrmattandmrchay]

thanks

[@boahneelassmal]

That orange is a bit "loud" but the fctures are really nice though.

[@ArgaTheRexouium]

Yay new video. Do you know when your next alarm video is going to come out?

[@mrmattandmrchay]

I think the 'when is XXXX video coming out?' is a FAQ! To be perfectly honest, I really don't know. It takes me ages to get videos up on youtube and this is because I don't get a lot of free time. And when I do get it, my editing takes probably 4 times as long as other people to edit one movie! I do have quite a few new old detectors to go through but as to 'when', at the moment your guess is as good as mine! 1-2, 3 months? Sorry! I do have 4 videos that I'm editing at the moment though, not alarm related though.

[@ArgaTheRexouium]

. well the videos you make are very professionally edited

[@gabrielcoyle9049]

What were the lifts originally and are the motors still original.

[@elevatorandmore4635]

Is all the four lifts are passengers lifts

[@misterwint]

Tasteful modifications. Shame you couldn't get to see the motors.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

If there was easy access then it would have made sense to have a look. But to be perfectly honest, all modern-day motor rooms look the same. Old motor rooms - now that WOULD have been worth exploring!

[@gabrielcoyle9049]

Are the motors original

[@gabrielcoyle9049]

What lifts would they have been originally

[@MichalM]

Evans.

[@richpeacock]

My manor. Never been in the lifts here though. Hope you got a salt beef & mustard bagel in brick lane whilst you were here.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

haha! Well, the goods lift smelt quite strongly of fish (unless someone in the building had a delivery of fish!?)

[@southlondontrainsbusesandl1699]

Where's the location

[@isweariwillmurderevilowlso8985]

Shoreditch hight street london

[@urgentkestrel7990]

Are the lifts MRL ?

[@HungryGuyStories]

Wait, you have to go up some stairs to get to the lifts?!?! Kind'a defeats the purpose, what?

[@EdwardMason9000]

There's a small platform lift seen at the start of the video for anyone physically unable to use the stairs

[@HungryGuyStories]

@@EdwardMason9000 Oh, okay then :-)

[@mrmattandmrchay]

This is probably how it was before. Seen quite a few buildings from the 60s/70s where disabled persons were not thought about, and there had been steps between the main entrance and the lifts. Yeah, but there is a platform lift there.

[@isweariwillmurderevilowlso8985]

How did you get in there because I want go there

[@mrmattandmrchay]

One of our customers is in there. There is a reception, but I suppose if you 'look' right then you'll get in, but depending upon how old you are you may look out of place with all the other people that work in the building and you may be questioned.

[@Paul-mv1sj]

I like the way these have been modernized (I would have rather had it original but beggars can't be choosers). Really like the call system, took me a bit to understand it though.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Yeah me too. Also, the call buttons from the upper levels initiate a DOWN call. So if you wanted to go from 5 to 7, you'd have to hope a lift arrives with no-one in it, so that you can press an upper button and the lift would change from 'going down' to 'going up'.

[@thomaskurzer3148]

The "Speak: Going down" Lady has a bad Job....

[@elevatorandmore4635]

Why they write good lifts

[@LiftAdventures]

It's a shame they put Lester Controls in for the controllers or it could just be a Lester voice unit. The acceleration on the goods lifts looks nasty. It's rare to hear the Lester Controls voice saying "please close the gate"

[@GenericLifts]

It's yucky how Lester controls are spending money on making a special voice just for this lift, please close the gate

[@MichalM]

2nd! Already liked!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

thanks

[@MichalM]

@@mrmattandmrchay :)

[@therealvbw]

And they are not elevators.

[@ava.4150]

Then what are they?

[@passacaglia28]

FIRST!!! ;)

[@mrmattandmrchay]

YAY! Get in there!

[@MichalM]

@@mrmattandmrchay LOL

[@ava.4150]

Who cares

[@MichalM]

@@ava.4150 I do!

[@ava.4150]

That got boring very quickly. Video is too long.

[@TechNerdNolan]

Did you see the gated elevators?

[@NickNorton]

That got interesting very quickly. Video is too short.

[@idl3k_elev]

The two passenger lifts were originally Evans as well? At least the mod doesn't use those boring black Dewhurst buttons.