Paternoster Lift back in use!

[Nick]

A Paternoster lift (or elevator) is an open fronted people mover similar to a conveyor belt. It moves continuously. There were hundreds built since 1868 but very few are still in use, most in Germany. Only a handful still work in the UK.

Northwick Park Hospital in London turned theirs off in 2013 but have put it back on again to help staff move around without contact with patients.
https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk/news/paternoster-lifts-hospitals-spirits-2154/

[tigercat]

I used to use one at Sheffield  University  when I was there.

[PR19_Kit]

I used to use one at Sheffield  University  when I was there.

Oh yeah, we used to use that to get to their Materials Lab on the third floor or so. A cracking piece of kit. 

I always wondered what would happen if you stayed aboard it when the thing went over the top and down the other side. Did the compartments ALWAYS stay right way up, or did the floor become the roof and vice versa? 

[Martin H]

What happens at each end?

[scooter]

OSHA (the US Occupational Safety and Health Agency) would have a field day.  As would the ambulance chasers.

My building in Trenton is 2 passengers per lift car.  Between that and temperature check in, it ought to make getting to your cube on time interesting; if and/or when we're required to return.

[PR19_Kit]

What happens at each end?

Fascinating, thanks for the link OGL. 

That drive wheel looked pretty lethal! 

[Mossie]

OSHA (the US Occupational Safety and Health Agency) would have a field day.  As would the ambulance chasers.

That was my first thought.  I think you could make a modern paternoster that stopped with doors and would be pretty efficient in a heavily used lift.

I had a short time between jobs when I  worked for three weeks as a theatre lift porter in the local hospital. It would have made my job redundant which would have been fine by me.

[jcf]

I rode on endless belt manlifts at more than one mill where I worked.
The longest was the equivalent of 11 stories.

[PR19_Kit]

Those WOULD have been dangerous to 'ride over the top' though. 

[zenrat]

I think wheelchair users could cope with a paternoster lift but an elderly person with a walking frame might get into trouble.

I'd be tempted to set up a cafe table and two chairs and spend all day sitting with a mate and a bottle going round and round and round and round...

[rickshaw]

There used to be such a lift in the Carpark of the John Martins' Department Store in Adelaide, here in South Australia.  It was only used for packages.  I remember seeing it still running, over a decade after it was stopped being used.  I suspect it was because no one knew how to turn it off! 

[perttime]

There was one at Leicester University when I visited many moons ago. Looks like it was closed some time ago. There's one in Eduskunta, the Finnish Parliament.

[NARSES2]

I rode on endless belt manlifts at more than one mill where I worked.

I rode on one at the WVS (German Steel Association) office in Dusseldorf back in the day. One person per step. Only one I've ever been on.

[PR19_Kit]

There used to be such a lift in the Carpark of the John Martins' Department Store in Adelaide, here in South Australia.  It was only used for packages.  I remember seeing it still running, over a decade after it was stopped being used.  I suspect it was because no one knew how to turn it off!

There was a very small one like that (the compartments were maybe a 2 ft cube) in the old Co-Op in Queen St on Oxford in the 60s.

They also had one of those overhead cable arrangements to fire money in bomb things back to a central cash desk for customer's change. Perhaps they didn't trust their shop assistants all that much? 

The whole place looked as if it was still in the 30s!

[NARSES2]

They also had one of those overhead cable arrangements to fire money in bomb things back to a central cash desk for customer's change. Perhaps they didn't trust their shop assistants all that much? 

Oh those things were great. Loads of shops still had them in Croydon in the late 50'. early 60's. I think one or two, maybe Hewitt's (who had and still have all the school uniform concessions in the area) and Grants had them until the early 70's ? Can you imagine Health and Safety's reaction if you wanted to install one now ? 

I've an idea Gamages in Holborn had one of those freight Paternostas ?