Antique Graves Traction Freight Elevator - Rochester, NY

(7-16-21) Now this is a beautiful old freight elevator! I'm unsure of the year it was installed, but my guess is around 1920. This elevator has a totally open ceiling which provides a really neat view up into the shaft and the 2:1 roping. It appears to have been modernized with the CJ Anderson fixtures inside and the interesting call stations on the outside. My guess is this was originally a pull the rope and received the mod to make it a constant pressure manual.
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[@Jamestube8439]

That's a great elevator, glad you got to find this.

[@stlelevators]

I was so shocked to stumble across this. I think the exact words out of my mouth are "woah that's an elevator"

[@Jamestube8439]

@@stlelevators yeah and it definitely.

[@elevator_satellite]

No way, an open ceiling 2:1 overslung lift!! Awesome find!

[@stlelevators]

Yeah I was surprised to run into this thing.

[@jacksonslaterelevatorraila6444]

This was filmed 7 years ago by jimster and it wouldn’t work properly

[@avlifts1989]

Thats like the coolest thing

[@stlelevators]

This was probably the coolest one we saw!

[@ECFE]

Now THAT is an elevator!

[@stlelevators]

Yes!

[@Dav1205Firealarmsandelevators]

I like it. Next to Nj.

[@SamSitar]

nice way to convert an elevator.

[@hotelfan9936]

this is indeed a really nice find!:)

[@stlelevators]

I wasn't expecting it at all.

[@TheTheo58]

Well oiled and maintained estimated 101 year old fright elevator. It's possible it was originally a pull rope machine room up/down contacts. I knew of an installation similar to this one from the 1930's smaller fright elevator 2:1 vertical bi-doors on the 3 landings. It was torn out in early 2000. A check of this elevator's machine room would likely find a controller with two or more relays, magnetic motor starter 3 phase, interlock/final upper/lower limit relay. Reverse phase relay/Phase reversing relay. Secondary disconnect.

[@stlelevators]

I believe it was a pull rope.

[@statecollegewx4060]

I like this

[@metroelevators4619]

I like this too

[@stlelevators]

Isn't it cool!

[@metroelevators4619]

@@stlelevators Sure is indeed!

[@EWPA14]

Weird how the horizontal-sliding fire door is the actual elevator outer-door w/ an interlock. I've also never seen a Peelle door release on a horizontal-sliding door so that's also strange. And the gap between the door & the elevator's very dangerous.

[@stlelevators]

Yeah that gap is seriously large.

[@DieselElevators]

I wAnNa RiDe ThE eLeVaToR

[@stlelevators]

Do you now?

[@user-vs9yx6yl8g]

@@stlelevators i remember jimster rode this and it broke

[@BrandondHasty]

What is a graves

[@EWPA14]

A brand in that area of NY.

[@stlelevators]

I believe it has something to do with Otis. Elisha Graves Otis was the full name.

[@EWPA14]

I never even thought about that.