Otis Signal Control was a signal operation elevator system introduced by Otis in 1924.
Overview
Otis Signal Control was the first signal operation elevator system. Otis Signal Control was a self-leveling elevator system. In the past, elevator speed was partly limited because of elevators requiring manual leveling, which became harder the faster the elevator is, even with 2 speeds, meaning elevators could go faster than ever at the time. Originally, this system was developed for low-speed, operatorless and foolproof service elevator in apartments. The first Signal Control elevator system installed in New York City was at the Standard Oil Building in 1925.
Notable installations
United States
- Palmolive Building, Chicago, IL
- United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building, Boston, MA
- Penobscot Building, Detroit, MI (modernized)
- Foshay Tower, Minneapolis, MN (modernized)
- Buffalo City Hall, Buffalo, NY
- 40 Wall Street, New York City, NY
- 60 Wall Tower, New York City, NY (double deck)
- Chrysler Building, New York City, NY
- Standard Oil Building, New York City, NY (the first Signal Control installations)
- Empire State Building, New York City, NY
- Helmsley Building, New York City, NY
- Woolworth Building, New York City, NY (modernized to Signal-Control in 1947)
- Ring Building, Washington, DC
- Terminal Tower, Cleveland, OH (since replaced 2 times by Haughton in 1968 and again by Kone Alta in 2008)
- 140 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA (since modernized 2 times by Otis Autotronic and again by Kone Polaris)
- 450 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA (modernized by Westinghouse circa 1970s)
- Russ Building, San Francisco, CA (modernized)
- Oliver Building, Pittsburgh, PA (one since been modernized and one decommissioned)
- Macys, Pittsburgh, PA (since been removed)
- Tower Life Building, San Antonio, TX (likely only some of the 10 elevators were Signal-Control)
Other countries
- Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Otis-Fensom, only 10/17 elevators were Signal Control)
- Canada Building, Windsor, Ontario, Canada (Otis-Fensom)
- Harrods Knightsbridge, London, England
- Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver B.C. Canada (since modernized)
Videos
AMAZING Vintage Otis Signal-Control Micro-Drive Manually-Controlled Traction Elevators
Vintage Otis Signal Control elevator at Buffalo City Hall, Buffalo, NY