Dumbwaiter pictures/stories?
Hello, b-stoners: Anybody happen to have a functioning (or nonfunctioning-but-basically-intact) dumbwaiter that they would be willing to post photos of here? I know it’s kind of ridiculous, but I’ve always wanted one and I’m toying with the idea of restoring the one that was originally in my house in CH. Thanks!
Hello, b-stoners: Anybody happen to have a functioning (or nonfunctioning-but-basically-intact) dumbwaiter that they would be willing to post photos of here? I know it’s kind of ridiculous, but I’ve always wanted one and I’m toying with the idea of restoring the one that was originally in my house in CH. Thanks!
We just got rid of ours. Wish we kept the hardware for you. We filled it up with all sorts of plumbing and a/c lines and the electrical conduit for our new solar PV system from the roof.
We just got rid of ours. Wish we kept the hardware for you. We filled it up with all sorts of plumbing and a/c lines and the electrical conduit for our new solar PV system from the roof.
Thanks very much Rick and Anon 10:07 (I’m the OP). Anon, I don’t suppose you could post a couple of digital pix of your dumbwaiter, could you? I’m actually at a loss to understand how the original ones could have worked. Ropes and pulleys and counterweights? Some kind of vertical metal screw with gears? As to the fire code point, surely there’s a way to put in a dumbwaiter that complies with regs–I mean, lots of buildlings have elevators. And why would a dumbwaiter shaft spread fire any more efficiently than an open stairwell?
btw leaving that shaft open is a fire hazard and against code to install. This shart is a great way for fire to spread quickly to all floors.
About 20 years ago I decided to restore my dumbwaiter. I had all the parts in place, but the main pulley gear was broken. I looking in Old House Journal (then published in Park Slope) and got the name of a company in San Francisco. I called to see if they had the part, they suggested I call a place in Chicago, who directed me to a junkyard with lots of elevator equipment in Greenpoint! The place in Greenpoint had the parts I was looking for. The dumbwaiter works great (it goes from the kitchen on 1st fl. to the dining room on 2nd) and it’s a real surprise to guests. It makes Thanksgiving alot easier.
To the OP. Funny you should ask. I never thought of keeping the parts because no one has ever asked me to fix a dumbwaiter or put one back in. However I would find that to be a really fun project. My basement is full of old stuff that I can imagine using. Dumbwaiter parts never made the cut for that reason. In fact you’re the first person that ever brought it up. Most of my renovation work in 2 & 3 family buildings want that space for closets. If your dumbwaiter shaft is still clear and you don’t need that space I would consider putting it back too. I’m not sure antique parts would be the the best way to go. I know thiose motor systems can get really expensive. I would look around to see if you can find the hardware as a kit. The box itself is easy to make.
Hey, Rick, in your work adding closet space in brownstones, have you ever had occasion to keep any pieces of these old dumbwaiters? Thanks
I’ve worked on many brownstones. Often I’m removing them to make room for closet space in 2 family buildings. I never thought of taking a photo of one. Very cool that you want to keep one. It’s a very basic, primitive structure -pully system that pulls a box from floor to floor. They have a very large wheel acting like a gear making it easy to move along a track in the shaft. I would check out The Old House Journal,I would expect they will have detailed plans.
PLease post pictures if you acquire. How easy/difficult is this to install/restore?