Tour of the HISTORIC, 104 YEAR OLD Gated Manual Otis Elevators at The Smith Tower, Seattle, WA

Filmed March 21st, 2018.
Completed in 1914, and once the Tallest Building West of Chicago and NYC, the Smith Tower is Seattle's ORIGINAL Skyscraper!!!! And it features some ALMOST COMPLETELY ORIGINAL, 104 YEAR OLD Otis Elevators!!!!!! I say ALMOST COMPLETELY ORIGINAL as the Gates, DC Motors, Crank Controls, and Cabs are ORIGINAL, but the controller has been replaced (though they may have also kept the old one too) and they added EPCO COPs in 1997 making these no longer Fully Manual, now Partially Manual and Partially Automatic, but still requiring operators, and also the gates were motorized in 1981. The cranks are required to start the elevators, but you no longer have to hold them down, unless someone calls the elevator and you want to ignore their call and go intro express speed. the Gates and floor selections are now controlled by pushing buttons inside, however, there is also a Fully Manual mode that shuts off the COP and makes it so only the crank is used to operate the elevator, and prior to 1997 before the COPs were added, just the cranks were used to operate the elevators. I'm not sure if these have 2 controllers or if they use the 1 controller when in Fully Manual Mode, as an exhibit on 35 suggests these do still use Relays. However, while there is a Fully Manual Mode, they have mainly been partially manual and partially automatic since 1997, but still requiring operators to respond to calls displayed on the COP, formerly on a vase like thing above the crank and next to the COP, and to control the elevators. I believe Fujitec is the one who upgraded these in the 90s as they have Fujitec style chimes, although I'm not sure.
These were VERY FUN and AMAZING Elevators, they were in MINT CONDITION, they ran SUPER SMOOTHLY for their age and run like they are BRAND NEW, (YET THEY ARE 104 YEARS OLD!!!), definitely some of the FUN I've ridden, and also some of the OLDEST I've ridden, with the only surprassers being the Manual 1891 Otis at Henry B. Plant Hall in Tampa and a few Gated Otises in San Francisco. The noises the gates and motors make sound AWESOME too!! And plus, these are ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!! Even though EPCO did get their paws on these in the 90s, these are otherwise COMPLETELY ORIGINAL, and still VERY EPIC, and are indeed one of the TALLEST KNOWN Gated/Manual Elevators on KZbin with only a Freight Elevator in Pittsburgh beating these in height.
SADLY though, this is going to be my ONLY ride on these BEAUTIES, and I will say it was VERY WELL WORTH IT! And this may be the last video of the Almost Completely Original Elevators on KZbin, as Thyssenkrupp is currently totally modernizing these elevators. Thyssenkrupp is replacing the COPs, putting new Glass Automatic doors in, New TAC32 Controllers and putting New Motors to replace the 104 Year Old DC Motors' on all elevators but Car #7 (which were in EXCELLENT Shape), and they all will be fully automated and will no longer have operators or be manually operated resulting in operators losing their jobs, except Car #7 which will still use operators and be manually operated for Historical and Touring Purposes, and will likely have it's original Otis motor retained, as the shaft equipment appeared to be intact, the roping looked different as the motors' positioning is different than the other elevator cars', but the equipment was intact and according to someone I emailed it was as of February, and they took Car #7 out of Service on January 22nd 2018 after putting Cars 1 and 2 back in service after fully automating and upgrading them. Car 7 will be back online with only a New COP, and possibly new doors, (though that is unknown), plus a new controller on May 22nd, 2018 . Once Car #7 is back in service, the remaining 4 Manual elevators will be fully automated and modernized. While I'm glad the cabs are staying along with the cranks and that they are for the most part keeping 1 the same, I'm really sad the old 104 Year Old Otis equipment is going, and feel bad for the operators.
Thankfully I got a ride on 2 of the ORIGINAL Otis Elevators, Cars #4 (last elevator I rode in video) and #6 (first elevator I rode in vid) and I GOT TO OPERATE THEM!!! Also, got the first take of a newly modded elevator here too. That being said, enjoy a FINAL RIDE of these AMAZING Elevators In their truly ANCIENT but AMAZING Condition!!! And also stay tuned for an Observatory/Building Tour too!!! Anyways, Here is a link to a video back when Car 7 was in service before it's ongoing (at the time this is uploaded) upgrade work was done: • Smith Tower: American ... and here's link with info regarding the automation/modernization project: www.google.com/amp/s/www.geek...
Installed in 1914, minor upgrades (as stated earlier in the description) done in 1981 and 1997, and all elevators are getting completely modded/automated (except Car 7) in 2018.

[@patrickrichmond9896]

One cool thing is so neat about my job is when an old elevator's life is on the line, I am there to save it. And hopefully a mod is avoided. Back in the days when this elevator was new, streetcars were running all over the place, both the buses and cars had manual transmissions. Almost half of the time, people that came to this building to clean the elevator for the tenants, also came to that building on horses.

[@FloridianElevators]

Streetcar1664 Yes! So true! And glad you work in the job you do so you can save some old elevators! Sadly, after 104 years, this place decided to completely mod these. :(

[@nanasajaia8919]

@@FloridianElevators is floor 33 locked

[@Schlipperschlopper]

This is a piece of art!

[@TechNerdNolan]

I love coming back and watching this video! These elevators are SO interesting!

[@FloridianElevators]

Indeed! They're a lot of fun! It is too bad though the original gates and most of the original motors are replaced now since this was taken and that all of the operators except the ones in the High Rise car are gone now. I'm definitely glad I got this when I did!

[@TechNerdNolan]

Floridian Elevators At least they didn’t replace the cab, take out the cranks, or demolish the building!

[@FloridianElevators]

@@TechNerdNolan Yeah. And least the 1 elevator still has an operator and it's original motor. Really the mod was pretty decent all things considered, it's just sad most of the operators lost their jobs and that the Otis machine you could watch in action on the top that I showed in this video has since been taken out and replaced with a New TK Momentum Motor just like the motors on all of the cars except 7, which really sucks, are seeing the then 104 year old motor in action was absolutely AMAZING and is an experience I'll never forget, but indeed, the mod could've been MUCH worse. As for demolition, I wouldn't worry about that happening, this is one of the most ICONIC Buildings in Seattle, as it is the OLDEST Skyscraper in the City, and when it opened in 1914, it was the tallest in the WORLD outside of NYC, and they just renovated this place in 2016, and it's very heavily protected as a landmark, and with that all being said, it won't be going.

[@AKAIGXF71]

Super!!! Respect from Romania, Bucuresti!

[@guitarplayerforu]

Amazing video and beautiful classic Otis Elevator/Lift, and that elevator operator seemed like a lovely person 😊 It's such a shame that beautiful historical Elevators/Lifts like those are being modernised 😢 There should be something that stops historical elevators being modded, in the same way a listed building can't be demolished 👍 I really can't understand why they'd replace all but 1 of the motors when there's absolutely nothing wrong with them, those classic Otis motors would probably last another 100 years, unlike any modern motor👌 It's so sad that future generations won't get to experience what an historical elevator is like, I think having Bell Hops or Elevator operator's as they're known now adds a nice touch and makes a place feel more luxurious, it's sad that most places don't have them nowadays, I assume we used to have them here in the UK too, back in the early 1900's. I feel for the elevator operators too who lost their jobs as a result of the elevator mods 😢

[@BCsVators]

Ahhh, the lovely Smith Tower! I’ll try to get these too.

[@FloridianElevators]

BC'sVators They are very fun!!! I just wish they weren't getting modded!!!

[@Bombiedude.]

I do like the old otis logo on the front of the elevator motor thats interesting

[@dmvelevators]

Very Interesting

[@PAelevators]

I love how you just stole the elevator 😂 Great video. To Bad I can't get out there to ride them

[@FloridianElevators]

PAelevators Yeah, it's a shame they are going. I'm glad I got to ride them when I did

[@Bombiedude.]

That is such a cool elevator deffinately an interesting modded control system

[@Ham549]

The wheel was there to send a manual brake for loading and unloading heavy material

[@michaelwalterselevatorsrob5009]

These as you know have since been modded. In my opinion the mod is worth checking out.

[@jaredini]

Damn that lift operator guy was hot!!! 🔥

[@over.4262]

This elevators are AMAZING. Sad they are gonna get modernized

[@SpiderCollector000]

LOL @ 27:30 - It totally looked like she wanted to get off the elevator with you. She went right back in and was going for the buttons and looking away from you!

[@supergage4325]

I have a Otis elevator from 1898 in my 5 level building in Lynn ma all original . It’s a gem no one knows about

[@missourielevators9252]

I like the old elevators better

[@Stefan_Lifts]

I’m your 100th commenter!

[@Ham549]

28:46 what is that?

[@PNWElevatorAviation]

And I believe ThyssenKrupp modded these. The Chimes sounds like Fujitec. Also, These got a VERY TASTEFULLY MOD

[@FloridianElevators]

Train & Busfan3712 Yes, TK is behind the mod, it says so in the plans. And I'm thinking Fujitec did the upgrades done in 1997. I do think the mod is tasteful as the cabs are the same and it still says "Otis Elevator Company" on the door track and they are keeping the outside doors the same and the cranks inside, and they are keeping one mostly original, but what upsets me about this mod is rest of the old equipment being destroyed, the scissor gates going away, and that all but 2 of the operators are losing their jobs

[@attipekkajames]

Chimes known "high-pitched" / "Otis Atlantic" chimes.

[@SPS8elevatorsoflakecounty]

Grand theft elevator at the end lmao

[@FloridianElevators]

LMAO!!!!!

[@cartopelevators8369]

Wow!! I love these elevators! Hope to see them when there fully modded

[@elevatingtorontobytoronele1143]

That is the most tasteful mod I have ever seen in my life! Turnstiles?

[@FloridianElevators]

Elevating Toronto by ToronElevators Nope, there is a public observatory and the building welcomes photography

[@ElevatorDude]

I'll have to find a historic building with gated elevators.

[@Bombiedude.]

As of now it is 109 years old because you just add 5 years on to 104

[@OPG2711]

Do you know what EPCO fixtures those are?

[@FloridianElevators]

OPM1961 Not quite sure. I think they are a form of CircleLine

[@SpeedVator]

they should keep one of the original motors for display

[@FloridianElevators]

SpeedVator They are actually. The motor that I showed on 35 in the video is being relocated to 2 as a museum piece

[@TechNerdNolan]

Imagine if KONE modded these

[@SPS8elevatorsoflakecounty]

Yup that's definitely a Fuji mod

[@musiclabmn]

So YOU were the one! I was here back in late April, and the operator mentioned as I was asking some questions about the elevators that someone had taken one on a joy ride recently. I just knew it was someone in the elevator filming community on KZbin.

[@FloridianElevators]

Music LabMN Oh really? Wow. LOL. Do you know which operator it was?

[@FloridianElevators]

Also, did you get a video of these?

[@musiclabmn]

Floridian Elevators Same guy you had and yes I did get some video since I had heard they were being replaced.

[@FloridianElevators]

Music LabMN What did he have to say about me? Lol. Do you have footage of him saying that?

[@musiclabmn]

Floridian Elevators I don’t believe I was recording when we were chatting at the end of my trip back down. He just said some kid who was there filming the elevators took one of them for a joyride when it was parked at the lobby. I’ll see if I can upload my footage at some point.

[@CAelevators.]

Actually, the new mod isn’t that bad. At least they kept original cab and the crank. It could have been much worse!

[@FloridianElevators]

CAelevators You do bring up a good point, I do agree, but what makes the mod bad/sad is that the 104 year old equipment is going, the cranks will no longer work, but more than everything, all (but the 2 running the observatory elevator) the operators are all losing their jobs, which is scary to think about....

[@FloridianElevators]

Though I am glad they are keeping one mostly original, with operators, otherwise I'd be much more upset. But I do feel bad for the operators losing their jobs and I'm still sad the other ones are going, but again, 1 is mostly staying and to be fair, the were already somewhat modernized.

[@mannyistheman2221]

One of the problems with the older elevators is that they are not up to modern safety codes. Also, the old equipment was not earthquake safe. it was also becoming more and more expensive to maintain these elevators. I don't think it was the elevator operators were making it expensive I think it was the high upkeep and maintenance on equipment this old. Even if it doesn't need maintenance all the time it was not cheap to fix these things. These things almost never broke down but they had to be maintained. Otis built some amazing elevators that were built. I would like to commend the people who modernized this for showing respect to the character of the elevators. They did it in a very dignified and respectful manner based on the age of the building and equipment. I've seen so many modernizations of historic elevators that were downright disrespectful and hideous

[@elevatorsbyliftfilmer1247]

You taking over the one elevator... That was, um... dare I say "evil" of you LOL

[@FloridianElevators]

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! LOL!!!

[@elevatorsbyliftfilmer1247]

Imagine if Andrew DieselDucy did that LOL

[@FloridianElevators]

@@elevatorsbyliftfilmer1247 LOL He actually called me out on it privately.... But he's done it before.... However it's mainly just in buildings where there is practically nobody in them he's done it in. This is a heavily occupied building, and therefore I was setting myself up to get busted lol.

[@elevatorsbyliftfilmer1247]

@@FloridianElevators I honestly wonder what would have happened if you did get busted XD

[@FloridianElevators]

@@elevatorsbyliftfilmer1247 I actually did at the end. I just censored what my mom and the pissed off operator said via music LOL. The Guard just said I wasn't supposed to ride the elevator like I did and he just thought I was taking pictures.....lol

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Most of them of going to be modernized to run automatically this year with the exception of the one that runs to the observatory

[@FloridianElevators]

Correct

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Floridian Elevators oh btw the first manual elevators I got to operate was at the condominium 1830 rittenhouse square in philly. These were also otis and were fast and also have dial indicators.

[@blueauraretriever]

This is going to be a very sad replacement :(

[@FloridianElevators]

Clinton Township Lifts by MagicalLift256 It really is. :(

[@FloridianElevators]

Especially since most of the operators are losing their jobs and all of the 104 year old Otis equipment is going away

[@mintsy4628]

8:27 start of video

[@QuarioQuario54321]

There’s just one elevator for 22-35?

[@FloridianElevators]

There are 2 high rise elevators. One that goes up to 33, which is the one in this video, and the one that goes up all the way to 35 which was out for modernization when this was taken.

[@PNWElevatorAviation]

Pull to stop INTERESTING!! It looks like riding the Transit Bus

[@FloridianElevators]

Train & Busfan3712 What do you mean? I'm confused lol

[@FloridianElevators]

Pull to Start?

[@Bombiedude.]

These kind of look like those wierd elevators from harry potter film 5 I think it was

[@Bombiedude.]

But exept the layout is not circular and these dont do that wierd horizantal movement

[@nanasajaia8919]

I ❤️ this elevator floridan elevators and is floor 33 locked

[@ryga8655]

I love how you people just ride an elevator and just by doing that know everything about it and how it operates!! Elevator Constructor for 30 yrs. Oh and by the way, the doors that open automatically are not original. Ugh!

[@aidenMCE]

At the end did you get busted by the operator?

[@attipekkajames]

He ride without permission. I think.

[@elevatorsfromfrance_official]

Awesome ! These elevators are amazing. Sadly they are going to be modernized 😑

[@TechNerdNolan]

One sad thing about Otis is that, you know how they are located in NY and CT, right? They have NO KNOWN LEFT OLD OTIS ELEVATORS in CT and just A COUPLE OLD OTIS ELEVATORS IN NY!

[@FloridianElevators]

NYC, Rochester and Buffalo, NY still have TONS of Gated and Manual Otises, so that isn't really true. Connecticut I don't know about as I haven't seen many videos from there nor have I filmed lifts there, but most of what I've seen from there online has been modernized.

[@TechNerdNolan]

Floridian Elevators Cause CT is full of rich people who want to modernize their elevators after 10 years. There is actually a Schindler 5500 near me that only goes up 9ft

[@FloridianElevators]

@@TechNerdNolan A 9ft tall 5500!?!? Wow!!! Shocked they didn't just install a 3100 or a Wheelchair lift (even though those suck). And yeah, as far as modernizations go, Florida is just as bad, many things here from the 90s and Early 2000s are already being modded, it is absolutely ridiculous, and if you want to find something from the 80s and prior, good luck with that. The reason for modernization here is building codes being overly strict though. Now that being said, we do still have a FEW Manual Elevators (such as the one in my channel thumbnail) as well as a couple Otis Black Buttons and 70s Dovers, at least for now, but idk how much longer they have left. Other than that though, basically everything here is modded lol.

[@nickplj12]

8:25

[@VinylToVideo]

Fujitec? Shouldn't Otis have worked on it in 1997? Would be kind of like having Toyota repair a Ford Model T.

[@FloridianElevators]

LOL True, but technically any elevator company can maintain any elevator regardless if they made it or not. And back in 1997, I'd assume Fujitec worked on these, but what Fujitec did then was add the EPCO COP and indicator and made them partially automatic and added the chimes. Other than that, they remained Original Otis mostly till last year when this was filmed.

[@mohammednadeemanwar2213]

Why even take it out to shove on a display wherevut will just sut there soulless without a use. 😢

[@emeraldgypsyheart]

They’re converting all of them? That’s terrible!!!

[@elevatorsbyliftfilmer1247]

No, they're keeping elevator 7 original

[@FloridianElevators]

@@elevatorsbyliftfilmer1247 Partially. Elevator 7 did get the same new fixtures and doors the rest of them did, but it still has a Manual Operator and it's original motor

[@CrossOfBayonne]

Hey I just emailed them and it's been confirmed that the scissor gate on car 7 is getting taken out

[@FloridianElevators]

I found out on instagram. Such a shame. At least that one can still be manually operated.

[@CrossOfBayonne]

that's the good thing at least

[@alexandrawilson1998]

Really 🤔 other people had to be there that’s so cruel

[@Anatole2201]

Honestly I disapprove what the tower is doing here. The operators contribute to this beautiful historic building. Automating the elevators makes this place more dull. Only leaving one for manual operation is also not great. Also the fact that they are only leaving one original for touring purposes is just lame. One more thing is how on earth was TK allowed to get rid of the 104 year old motors and only save one?! I also dislike how they made the old cranks not move anymore. Such a disappointing mod from TK. I would expect better then this...

[@FloridianElevators]

Yeah, How would they be allowed to do this!?!?!?! The project somehow was approved. And even the one that still is going to be Manual technically won't need an operator and it is still getting upgrades such as a new Innovation Universal COP, and since it will have a fully automatic mode and will only be Manually Operated for Historic and touring purposes, I fear the scissor gates are being removed.

[@Anatole2201]

If I was on the historical preservation council and saw the mod proposal from TK I would say "Are you kidding me?!" And then deny it. Plus the previous mod had NO issues and you could easily replace the gates while doing nothing to the controllers. They should've at least made them like the old ones with a keyswitch for fully manual, partial automatic, or fully automatic. As for leaving one manual only for tours I think that makes this place classify as one of those places which hides a dirty secret that the elevators within the tower are not manually operated anymore.

[@FloridianElevators]

DoverElevatorFan1 Yeah, but that 1 manual elevator will also have a fully automatic mode and will run just like the other newly modded elevators (aside from the motor) when the Observatory is shut. But it will just have an operator for touring and historic purposes and be manually driven simply for that. And yeah, I really find it despicable a Historic building like this would kill of almost all of the elevator operators and make it so they lose their jobs.

[@FloridianElevators]

DoverElevatorFan1 And honestly, I wish they would keep the scissor gates

[@FloridianElevators]

DoverElevatorFan1 And I agree with that whole dirty secret thing!!! Lol

[@stevenhoelderich9490]

Oh what's going to be in it's place Elevator garbage?!? Humm?

[@Clement-xy9iv]

This used to be so beautiful.... but they got modded and they are getting again by some shitty companies :-( They should rename Tyssen Krupp into Tyssen krapp (lol)

[@FloridianElevators]

Clément 2000 the first mod all they did was add the COP and replace the call stations and the controller probably but other than that they have been the same since 1914. Now with the new mod by Thyssenkrupp, they will no longer require operators and they will have new inner doors, COPs, motors and controllers. And I so agree with what you said about Thyssenkrupp LOL

[@Clement-xy9iv]

They will also replace the motors ?!?! Wow, TK is defenetely a fu*k*ng company !

[@FloridianElevators]

Clément 2000 Yes, they were still using their original motors made by Otis from 1914, and all but 1 of the motors are being replaced with Thyssenkrupp Momentum Machines

[@Clement-xy9iv]

But... WHY !?!?!?

[@FloridianElevators]

Clément 2000 No clue. The Otis DC motors were in great condition and the mostly unmodded elevators in the video with the gates ran SUPER SMOOTH for being 104 years old!!!!! The new Thyssenkrupp Momentum motors will only last 10-30 years at most on the other hand....

[@joostderidder]

please .... take off that horrible and way too loud music. thanks