Hand-Powered Otis Freight Elevator Saved

In our search for vintage equipment for the restoration of the Rock Mill, a water-powered grist mill, we came upon a hand-powered Otis freight elevator in a building that is scheduled for demolition.

The elevator has since been removed from the building, and is now in storage, awaiting a decision as to what use to make of it.

Information from the Otis company indicates that these elevators were manufactured as late as the 1890s.

The restoration of the mill building is nearing completion. The installation of a new, 26 foot diameter, water wheel is scheduled for September. The timber framed building was built in 1824.


Bruce E. Babcock

[1] don't understand the second photograph. Is that the elevator on the trailer?
[2] please say a bit about how the elevator was operated. Where do you stand and what do you pull on to operate?

Marty,

The entire elevator was transported on that trailer, in one load. The wooden uprights had already been unloaded when I took the photo. The "A frame" structure is the elevator car.

When in use, there was an endless 1 1/8 inch rope that hung on the huge iron pulley, and extended to the lowest level of the building. (The 1 1/8 inch rope is there, it had simply slipped off the pulley when the photo was taken.) To go up, the operator would stand on the platform of the car and pull on one side of the rope. To go down he would pull on the opposite side. There are heavy iron counter weights that help to offset the weight of the operator and the load. There is a brake that keeps the elevator from rising from the weight of the counter weights, when it is not in use. There is another brake that would automatically grasps the wooden vertical rails if the steel cables should fail.

Before we disassembled the elevator, it was being used to remove equipment from the upper level of the building.

The first photo shows the counterweights when the elevator car is at the highest level.

The second photo shows the brake. There is a rope attached to each end of the diagonal lever. The ropes extend to the lowest level. Pulling on one rope releases the brake, the other rope sets it.

The mill, where the elevator is now located, is one of 18 sites owned by the Fairfeild County (Ohio) Historical Parks.

Bruce E. Babcock

So what ever happened to this elevator?

When I was a kid our neighbor ran the local Standard Oil bulk plant. He supplied oil, gas and lubricants to the local service stations and delivered heating oil, gas and lubricants to farms, and homes. The barrels of oil were stored in the basement of the facility. They were taken from the train cars by dolly to the same kind of elevator for transport to the storage area. The elevator was rated for 5,000 lbs. and was operated very easily by a 14 year old skinny kid.

We must have raised and lowered that elevator 100 times a day loading trucks and unloading train cars. I couldn't believe how well balanced it was. I could raise or lower it using 1 hand while using the other to hold my ice cream cone.

Ham549 said:

So what ever happened to this elevator?

Click to expand...

The elevator is stored in a clean, dry, warehouse. I don't yet know what we will eventually do with it.

Bruce E. Babcock

interested in a vintage freight elevator

Bruce E. Babcock said:

In our search for vintage equipment for the restoration of the Rock Mill, a water-powered grist mill, we came upon a hand-powered Otis freight elevator in a building that is scheduled for demolition.

The elevator has since been removed from the building, and is now in storage, awaiting a decision as to what use to make of it.

Information from the Otis company indicates that these elevators were manufactured as late as the 1890s.

The restoration of the mill building is nearing completion. The installation of a new, 26 foot diameter, water wheel is scheduled for September. The timber framed building was built in 1824.


Bruce E. Babcock

Click to expand...

Hi Is the freight elevator avaiable for sale, I am intyerested and looking for a vintage freight elevator like such, hand crancked

I know of one that may be for sale.

View attachment 249574 Here is another photo.

Is it still available for sale in Iowa?

otay said:

I know of one that may be for sale.View attachment 249573

Click to expand...

I have the exact model shown in this thread. However the previous building owner decommissioned the elevator by removing the elevator car or platform. If the one above has not found use or the one in Elk Horn Iowa is still available I am interested in making my freight elevator operational again. Thanks

I have a freight elevator nearly identical that I've taken down myself, I have every nut,bolt, and metal part except the freight car, I have the timbers that supported the elevator but they have been sawn , that was done without my consent or knowledge but I saved them none the less [email protected]

I have one pretty close to identical to this one that is actually still in the warehouse and it is very much for sale

looking for dumbwaiter

jonibadgett said:

I have one pretty close to identical to this one that is actually still in the warehouse and it is very much for sale

Click to expand...

Hello,
Jonibadgett
Please tell me is that dumbwaiter still have in place or it sold.

Is this of any interest?

Two Motor Pully things - free stuff

Quoted for posterity..


I have two heavy motor pully things. I'm not sure, but they could have been used for an elevator or dumbwaiter. We got rid of a dumbwaiter, so I'm guessing that's what they were used for. They are located in my basement and I can't help lift them. FREE.


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