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c/elevator-mechanics•eva417eva417•5d ago

Update: Dealing with a vintage elevator in a Paris apartment building

I was in Paris last month staying at a friend's place in an old building. The elevator there was this tiny cage from maybe the 1920s, complete with a hand-pulled gate. It got stuck between floors with me inside, and I had to jimmy the latch from the inside. Thank goodness I carry a multi-tool for moments like these. It made me think about how different safety standards are overseas. The whole thing was a mix of scary and cool, seeing such old tech still in use. Have you run into historic lifts while traveling? How do you deal with the odd fixes?
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4 Comments
the_ivan
the_ivan5d ago
How did you keep from panicking when you were stuck in that old elevator? Honestly, I would have been freaking out the whole time. Tbh, it's wild to think lifts from the 1920s are still in use today with different safety rules. Ngl, I always have a multi-tool on me but never thought to use it for something like that. What went through your head when you decided to try fixing it yourself instead of calling for help?
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grayr72
grayr725d ago
Actually they've got modern safety stuff now.
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derek998
derek9985d ago
Question @grayr72, what modern safety stuff actually fits in a 1920s cage elevator? Would you ever trust it again after that scare?
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emma825
emma8255d ago
Wow, that sounds totally nerve-wracking but also kind of amazing you got it open. I completely get that mix of being scared and weirdly impressed by the old mechanics. In my experience with older buildings, that moment of panic just turns into focused problem-solving because you realize you're kinda on your own. Your mileage may vary, but I probably would have tried the multi-tool too before waiting for help, just to feel some control. Stuff like that really makes you appreciate modern codes, even if the old stuff has more character. Glad you were okay and handy.
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