Historic Manually Controlled Otis Traction Elevator @ The Young Quinlan Building - Minneapolis, MN 

I would argue that the crank elevators including this one are actually a lot more safer than the ones made now.

Oh yeah back in those days it was common for buildings across the country to have lift attendants few places have them now.

these are real elevators I don't blame you for liking them it's not like the cheap junk they make today that you have to take out after only a few years. The older stuff was built with love built with character built to last and built with pride. They will never make elevators of that quality ever again

This one has a lot of steel put into it and mostly of the ones I've ridden in mostly were wood.

They're controlled by the pedals @ 1:07. As for them actually opening/closing, I believe it detects if the car's lined-up w/ the floor.

I could be wrong, but my guess is that turning the car switch closes the hoistway door, and when the elevator stops at a floor, the hoistway door opens. I think if one pedal is pressed down, it allows normal operation, and if the other pedal is pressed down, it holds the hoistway door open when the elevator is turned off. From what I have heard, I think the door is a pneumatic/air operated door.

The only thing unsafe is somebody could put their hands through the scissor gate and can result in injuries.

They said there is an operator most days during business hours.

That’s about right for these.

Sure is and the 3rd car was kept original for historical reasons to show how life was back then

I am not sure.

That's really cool!

@@stlelevators This was back in the 70's I believe and was employed by a warehouse where there was a old freight elevator which have actually been push button but still operated by an attendant.