Old Deadman controls

Deadman control or Deadman Switches can either be buttons (also known as Constant pressure control) or a car switch (spring loaded crank).

How it works

For deadmans control with buttons, the buttons has to be held at all time, if the button is not being pressed the elevator will stop, the call buttons work the same way. For the crank elevators  the crank has to be turned to a direction to go up or down , if the crank gets let go the crank will return to the default position and the elevator will stop, when the call buttons are pressed it does not really call the elevator,what is does is make a light (or something else) on a panel inside the elevator letting the elevator operator to go to the floor where the elevator has been called.

Gallery

Wiring diagram for a "Deadman" operated elevator.

An Otis deadman switch in Starks Building, Kentucky, Louisville, United States.

Otis deadman control in Robert E Lee Building, Lexington, VA.

A disabled Otis deadman controller in The Strands Arcade, Sydney, Australia.

Disabled Johns & Waygood deadman controller in David Jones Store, Melbourne, AU. The current elevator is ThyssenKrupp.

Vintage Otis car switch (Credit to Wikipedia user Drgitlow)

Otis deadman control in Smith Tower, Seattle, United States.

Old deadman control manufactured by CJ Anderson.

An old deadman control manufactured by Peeco.

Schindler deadman controller (before 1950s).

Video

VINTAGE Manually-Controlled OTIS Traction Freight Elevator @ 153 W. 108th St. Parking, New York, NY

How it works

Elevator

Drive systems: Traction • Winding Drum • Hydraulic Types of elevators: Double Deck • Dumbwaiter • Fireman's • Freight • Incline • Passenger • Residential • Wheelchair lift Concept: Capacity • Destination dispatch • Elevator algorithm • Elevator control system • Elevator machine room • Elevator maintenance • Elevator monitoring system • Elevator modernization • ACOP & UCMP • Machine room less elevator • Major alterations • Rated speed Elevator systems, controllers and equipments: Elevator emergency automatic rescue device • Elevator fixtures • Elevator keys • Elevator special modes • Elevator doors • Door cam • Door interlocks (Interlock wiring communication system) • Door restrictor • Elevator Inspection Certificate • Emergency stop button • Floor designators • Gate switch • Old Deadman controls • Overspeed governor • Motor-generator set & Silicon-controlled rectifier (for DC-powered elevators) • Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (for AC-VVVF-powered elevators) • Selector • Tape head • Regenerative converter (for AC-VVVF-powered elevators) See also: List of elevator fixtures guide • List of elevator and escalator companies • Elevator door sill guide (Non-proprietary elevator component door sill guide) • Floor numbering (Unlucky floor numbers) • Elevator incidents and accidents