Such a nice lift! I hope it never ever gets fully modernised as it is such a beauty. The amount of quality in it is remarkably ahead of modern elevators.
I googled Henry B. Plant Hall looked at images taken of the roof top. since I don't know the where the elevator shaft is located on the roof related to the lobby floor plan, however I did see a small penthouse which might the machine room. Since the original water powered hydraulic water tanks, and steam engine were on the roof, seems it would be logical being an overhead traction elevator. It would require more hoist rope for a basement traction machine and the four sheaves, anchored above the hoist way for the cab and counterweight. However, still possible it's a basement traction.
TheTheo58 if you walk directly into the building, you walk left, and then it’s a diagonally to the right. It’s past the staircase and parallel to the current museum entrance. They may not list it on the map bc it’s not an elevator they want people to use.
I’m going to be in Disney from the 26th to the 1st, and I’ll be staying at the Yacht Club. If you’re nearby and wanted to meet in the Epcot Resorts area, I’d be down!
According to an 1893 Otis catalog, it appears this building was built with at least 2 elevators (1 passenger, 1 freight), both "hydraulic" (would be some type of water hydraulic, possibly non-electric). Do you know if the "freight" elevator was removed or does it still exist (functional or defunct, original or modded)?
Hate to break it to you but all the operational boxes in the cab are not original including the crank lever, it’s all been modernized, even the Otis logos are very updated.
OMG I'd get the government involved LMAO..... JK I really wouldn't, but my god that would be AWFUL and be one of the WORST losses of all time!!!! Thankfully, this should be historically protected being it's Florida's Oldest Elevator. But we all know how the building codes are like!!
Trust me, they never will. The campus can only use the building if they let the museum have free reign or it’s wing (the ground floor, left side). When the ADA was passed the property added elevators for general use. They don’t fire up the Otis beauty unless someone specifically asks.
