I finally saw a traction elevator in a 1920s Chicago building with the original hemp ropes still in place

The building manager said they keep them for show but the real lift runs on steel cables now. Some guys on site thought keeping the old ropes was a cool piece of history, but others said it's a safety risk even if they're not used. What's your take on keeping old parts for looks in a working shaft?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor6681mo ago

Reminds me of my buddy's old place where they kept the original gas lamps, totally agree with @susana66 about keeping cool old stuff if it's safe.

susana661mo ago

Honestly that's way cooler than my building's "historic" feature, which is just a weird smell in the lobby. If the ropes aren't holding anything up anymore, I say keep them. It's not like they're going to jump off the wall and strangle someone. Some people just get nervous about anything old, probably the same folks who think a creaky floor means the house is falling down.

kim1911mo ago

That bit about the creaky floor made me laugh. My aunt's old house had a stair that sounded like a gunshot every time you stepped on it, but we all just learned to skip that step.