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Union Lift Adventure: July 2022

Writer's picture: The Rising Salamander AcademyThe Rising Salamander Academy

Lift Adventure Date: July 31

Lift Adventure Time: 8:00 PM EST

For this lift adventure, I attempted to film 5 lifts, but could only film two of them due to technological reasons. The 3 I wasn't able to film did not have ADA compliant intercoms & the alarms were broken so I did not even attempt riding them. Therefore, this lift adventure will be based on a tale of two vintage lifts as follows:

  • OBGYN Armor

  • WITD Staley


OBGYN Armor


Where: Undisclosed

Time Filmed: Morning (July 29)

Grade: A-

Speed to Height Ratio: ~4.3:1

Landings Served: 3


FYI: OBGYN stands for obstetrics & gynecology.


The first lift of this lift adventure is a nearly fully original black button Armor lift from the 1940's-1960's which had its intercom replaced very recently. The alarm was tested & is working. It has a wooden cab with old-fashioned fluorescent crown lighting on the top of the car. The fixture panel is placed really high making it non ADA compliant. This lift is located in an OBGYN building right next to the main bus station in Union Township. It is the fastest & quickest lift of this lift adventure with a speed to height ratio of approximately 4.3:1 over 3 stops.


Outstanding characterful elements include an unusually small but wide cab with fluorescent old-fashioned lighting at the top with an almost fully functional indicator from the 40's through 60's. Some of the font on the buttons has worn off considerably, but the fixtures remain original. Added to that, the hard & jolty starts & stops in both directions as well as the normal speed producing a speed to height ratio of 4.3:1. Given that a vintage original lift that is easily accessible with few security barriers is a rare find in New Jersey, I decided to assign a grade of "A-" to this lift as it is epic & awesome. On the NAEG Rarity Scale of 1-10, this lift would rate as a 9.



WITD Staley


Where: Undisclosed

Time Filmed: Morning (July 29)

Grade: A-

Speed to Height Ratio: Unknown (Estimated: 3.3:1)

Landings Served: 3


FYI: WITD stands for window in the door.


The second & final lift of this lift adventure is a slightly upgraded black button Staley lift from 1973 which still has the original window in the door. The alarm was tested & is working. It, like the other lift, has a wooden cab but the lighting scheme is different albeit using fluorescent lights. The fixture panel is ADA compliant, unlike the other two lifts in this complex that I chickened out of. This lift is located in an office building complex & is the middle of 3 buildings. Its actual speed to height ratio is unknown, but the estimated ratio is 3.3:1 over 3 stops.


Outstanding characterful elements include an epic motor, paired with extremely rough starts & stops. It also sports the best classic leveling of any hydraulic lift I've filmed thus far. The window in the door is a nice touch. As with the previous lift, I decided to give this lift a grade of "A-". On the NAEG Rarity Scale of 1-10, this lift would rate as a 9.



I look forward to seeing you on the premiere at 8:00 PM EST this evening.



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