Old buildings from the 60s and 70s fascinate me. I am highly interested in fans and extractors from this era so love seeing office blocks with these in the windows - Vent Axia Standard range and the Xpelair GX range. The lift equipment is interesting too!
I am so glad you were able to access the motor room since you were having a little difficulty with the combination lock. As always your elevator videos are totally awesome.
Having worked in the alarm industry for 30 years myself, I was always amazed how many sites had codes written down by the alarm panels ! Even a well know high street bank had a list of all the staff codes adjacent to the main vault alarm ! Great video as always, many thanks :-)
Absolutely love these old lifts, any gated lift reminds me of childhood. As a kid I used to get my family to ride up and down the lifts in the OwenOwen/Allders building in Coventry (now Primark) . I couldn’t get enough of the lift tummy feeling. Now I am always on the lookout for old lifts and this video is spot on. The old Bedworth Hypermarket and it’s further incarnations prior to demolition around the millennium had the first lifts I really remember - it was the first supermarket in Britain at the time it opened in the 1960s , and I had family work and shop there throughout the 80s & 90s. I used to dream about falling off the top of the lift tower regularly as a kid. By the time the building was knocked down the lifts were in rough state at best. In recent years I’ve become a wheelchair user so see a lot of the private lifts as I’m ushered around less than adequately accessible buildings and am always overjoyed to see a lift with an original features. If you’re up in the Midlands at any point I have 2 original lifts that might be worth a look over. 1 - Coventry’s “New” Cathedral built in the 60s - has a very well kept double gated lift with interior wooden panelling. Only accessible for wheelchair users and given plans to build another cafe it may be they will allocate another place for disabled toilets that won’t requisite use of the lift in the next 1-3yrs 2- Oasis in Birmingham City Centre, B4 6SX. It’s a building with around 5 floors of stalls selling alternative styles of clothing, music etc. It’s a proper maze and even after going there in my teens most weekends I had no idea there was a lift until I gained my wheels. The lift is ancient and really unreliable. There’s a key holder who operated it because of its state. Staff seem afraid of it. Anyway, thanks for such a good find with this Pickering and happy hunting!
Hi, sorry I haven't replied (9 months later!!) that's because your post was flagged for review and I've only just noticed it! I remember loads of lifts that used to terrify me as a kid, in particular around Bracknell. My nan used to take me around them, I loved watching them and going around them but secretly I was pertified to ride in them! Also thanks for the suggestions for places to visit. Maybe I'll try and contact someone there to take a look (that's if they're still there or not!).
At the start you mentioned about people seeing the building as an eyesore. But, like yourself, I do like the older architecture, and, in particular, the 1960s 'brutal' sorts. We have some old 'eyesores' here in Dublin, such as Hawkins House from the 1960s, which has been classed as the most despised building in the city. It is earmarked for demolition, and two other buildings from the same era on the site have recently been demolished. Practically everything with the exterior of Hawkins House is original, and I'm sure it is the case for the interior, maybe bar the lifts. Although it is no longer in use, it is still lit inside at night, parts of the interior on the lower levels can be viewed when passing. With other eyesores, though, many have either been demolished or extensively refurbished inside, but still looking sort of original outside. With the Vernon Building, it has plenty of character. I guess the slight modernisation of the lifts was inevitable, if there are no plans to demolish the building.
I've just googled the building you mentioned, can already see photos of it being demolished. Such a shame as I'd love to have a look around this type of building, but mainly for the old lifts. Unfortunately practically no-one would 'officially' allow this.
@@mrmattandmrchay I'm not sure if there is anyone that could be asked. Security would most likely say no there, assuming there is still security in the building, despite the building being vacated a couple of years back. Besides, I did read that at least a couple of floors were blocked off on safety grounds some time back. And, come to think of it, the indicators on the lifts didn't seem original, just from having a look in when passing. So, a sign of modernisation at some point. Old lifts are a rarity here now. Though, there are still some that have been modernised in some way, but have kept older cabs and doors. But, in most cases, they have just been modernised completely. In this Dublin building in the link, the lift is classed as listed, and a protected structure. Although the article is from 2016, it could still well be in working order, and hopefully won't be touched, if there is redevelopment or refurbishment of the building. Though, it may not be accessible at present, unless the person works there, or is a client. Just scroll across the photos. www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/dame-street-corner-in-dublin-has-quirky-mix-at-1-9m-1.2684368?mode=amp
Pickerings: manufacturer with the smallest, most cramped, and sometimes most dangerous (exposed shaft) motor rooms! I assume lift engineers absolutely despise servicing Pickerings lifts - it seems like all their motor rooms are incredibly small!
I remember watching your 2011 video of this place when I started to get interested with your channel almost a decade ago. Apart from the newly replaced fixtures, logic and a few other stuffs, these are still nice lifts that are very wel made and long lasting. Also love the 60s ambience of this building.
No LockPickingLawyer required to crack that lock! Yes, almost every 4 digit code in buildings I have worked in starts with "19". Even the alarm code in my house was "1911", when I moved in. Can't wait for the next part.
That’s a very strange old building Matt, it could certainly use a few new lights in the common areas. I’m with you on the header tanks and old door closers, irrational dislike of both; nice old gated lifts, glad to see the old motor is still in service it looks like a standard AC squirrel cage. I can’t wait for part two to see what type of control it has now, it sounds very phase angle.
Yes, this would be an AC squirrel cage motor. Interesting that you also don't like these overhead water tanks. To me, it's like a 'greater power shadowing me beneath' lol! Thanks for the comment. The controller is indeed in part 2.
I really like those metal window frames, they are very slender and minimalistic. The whole building has a very utilitarian feel to it. But those water tanks... flush them! The waterfall noise that these make is super loud. I can see why kids are scared of it, as child I found the loud noise of these things a little bit upsetting when it happens suddenly. It’s not something you want to hear unprepared when it flushes unexpectedly. It not so bad if you flush it yourself and you know it’s going to be loud. A lot of elderly homes and schools had these as well. My grandparents had such as a watertank in their appartment.
Awesome lifts, still interesting despite being modernised. What’s the point in having a padlock on the door if they are going to write the code on the door? Hahaha! Also it’s strange how the first lift you went in kept saying it was out of service despite working completely normally. Was it in car preference mode or was it just a bug?
Me too. I've subbed to a few people on facebook where they go about their normal jobs, one is leak detection. They open cisterns and lids off water tanks without any hesitation, but for me, never could do that!
@@mrmattandmrchay Just watching your Hilton Park video and got to that water tank. Nope, that can F*** off too! It’s weird, my dad was a plumber and the things he worked with on a daily basis give me the creeps.
I’ve also had my fair share and luck with codes. Getting into old apartment buildings that have old elevators. Most of the time it’s the address with a 0 in front lol.
haha, nice one! A previous place I went to, it literally was 1234! I was in Paris at the beginning of the year and they seem to choose codes which are much more complicated - after watching many people enter, I got into these old looking flats (apartment block) to find modernised lifts inside - I didn't even get the camera out of my pocket :( :(
I'd say the oldest buildings which are kept in original condition are mainly these industrial type places, fancy office buildings are needed to look modern but manufacturing firms, garages etc just need something that works and don't need anything that looks "good"
Most people don't even care about the lift's machine room as long as the lift works, they're happy to ignore it. I'd hazard a guess (see what I did there), it's more of a simple barrier to stop people walking in and getting their fingers cut off. Clean up would be messy on so many levels (ok I'll give it up now).
@@simonj48 Yeah, I guess you’re right. If it was for example a young kid, they might figure out how to open a slide lock (but they could just put it up high I suppose). But with a code lock it takes a bit more thinking to open it.
Even if the code wasn't written on the door, most combination locks are easy to pick. You just pull on the shakle whilst turning the wheels and feel for movement.
I don't want to poke fun at your phobia in any way as I got a pretty stupid one aswell (fear of balloons), but do you know if it's just water tanks or manmade objects underwater? I heard that this would be called submechanophobia
Hi, nah, it's the ball valve element. I'm fine with fish tanks and normal tanks of water (to a degree), but I'm not ok when it's a tank of water that could start hissing at any moment. Going from silence to making a hissing sound, when you can't quite see where the hissing is coming from is the panic moment!
Nah, not really. I suppose if you're thinking about Ghosts, then your mind is more likely to invent one. That's not saying that I don't believe in them, because I'm sure there is truth in it, but I've personally not experienced ghosts. I have experienced the fear of water tanks though lol!
Oh nice! Sorry that I wasn't "in" the premiere, I was repairing a elevator at the time. Edit: oh well it wasn't even a premiere! (Read the comment awnsers)
@@Lift.Tracker Oh really? I'm always thinking it is because he made the last videos premier's, sorry. Edit: ye well even the turn on part 2 thing video was no premiere. Now the question: was there a reason for that or not?
@@tizutitandula5638 There doesn’t seem to be any reason as to why his videos are premieres or not. I assume it’s just if he has time to do it or not. If there ever is a premiere though, there is usually at least a 24 hour notice for it. :-)
This lift is out of service. * Driving lift * ------- Hmm what could the reason be that it still runs? Probably that the message doesn't turn off the motor or blocks it? Maybe the message doesn't do anything with the motor and you need to disable the motor manually? Well I could do some advanced explanations why it could be, but that would be too complicated for a yt comment. Sooo .. what do you think is the reason?
If I'd had visited the motor room at that point in time, then I would have been able to find out. Unfortunately it was the other lift I concentrated on so not sure. I think a run from top to bottom sorted it out anyway.
@@mrmattandmrchay :( that's sad, but it's probably that the out of service message doesn't do anything with the motor in type of "blocking", if so then probably because the motor may be still older, and doesn't have a "function" that can "block" the motor when the thing wants to "block" it. Maybe that's the reason, but maybe not. Who knows?
Sorry that I'm posting another comment but .... if you're showing the code that it was before the right one, then censors the "spinning" (ye I forgot the word :/ ) but not your finger you can calculate the number - that may be hard .. but *possible* ! So please skip the lock number entering entirely or censor your finger too, then it's harder, but still possible. If you want to really do it *almost* impossible censor it in a color, image, etc and don't use transparency. *Some part/s of the text may be wrong, I didn't/don't work on some security company/position like you did* . Regards, Tizu
hi matt mikie here hope you and your family are keeping safe and well during the pandemic, ive been soucing old lifts from back round this area if you can get a hold of me on facebook i can send you my new number and i can arrange visits once the climates better and your back up my way stay safe look forward to hearing from you
thanks, yes, absolutely. For those who do not take it seriously, lets hope it's not you who is affected. If you are, then the worst case is you'll not be around for much longer AND you'll also pass it to others.
