Saw an old Otis traction unit still running in a 1920s building in Savannah

I was down in Savannah for a family thing last week and got a peek at the machine room in this old hotel. The thing is still on an original Otis traction unit from the 1920s, I'm pretty sure. The motor was huge, all open frame, and the sheaves were worn smooth but still turning. What got me was the brake... it was this massive solenoid setup with a lever arm, not like anything we see now. The super said they have a guy who comes in once a year to adjust it and it just keeps going. No modern controller, just the old relay panel clicking away. Makes you think about how overbuilt some of that old stuff was. Has anyone else worked on one of these antiques and know what the common failure points are before they finally give up?

3 comments

3 Comments

perry.evan20d ago

Overbuilt" just means they didn't know when to stop, right?

andrew_gonzalez8820d ago

Seen it on a deck job last month, @perry.evan. Client wanted 2x10 joists when 2x8s would've been fine, just cost them extra for no real benefit. Sometimes it's about not understanding the plans, not just going too far.

jamesfox8d ago

Used to think overbuilt meant bad design. Then you see a hundred year old elevator still running on its original parts. Makes you realize they built things to last back then, not just to meet a spec.