Antique - ELEVATOR POSITION INDICATOR- RARE from Former AT&T Hq. MARVELOUS

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Antique - ELEVATOR POSITION INDICATOR- RARE from Former AT&T Hq. MARVELOUS :
$7995.00

Remarkably Unique, Historic andRare

Collectable Piece of Architectural & Corporate History

LikelyUnattainable From any Other Source

YouMust See the Pictures.

Elevator “PositionIndicator”

From the Former AT&T Headquarters Building

195 Broadway, New York City

Thank You for Looking , , , ,Now, let’s see if I can Captureyour Interest

Hi!

You may not beinterested in purchase but I hope you have an interest

in getting an insight into the attitudesof business in the early 1900’s

and how theyportrayed themselves. All this box did, was to tell you where an

elevator was.

And Now to the Provenance

This Elevator “Position Indicator”was “rescued” during a time after the original manual elevators had been phasedout and the vintage Position Indicators were being updated around early 1973.Had I not intervened, it would have been transported to a demolition salvagesite. Upon returning the following day, the demolition crew had left.

The significance of this uniqueexample of a “Position Indicator” may be confirmed by reading an article foundin the February 2016 issue of “Elevator World” (the Premier Magazine of theinternational Building Transportation Industry.

The article may be found startingon Page 58, entitled “Paul Schuyler Van Bloem” by Dr. Lee Gray

Not to be forgotten is SchuylerVan Bloem the designer of the Indicator. In his own time he was an estimableprofessional in his own right.

As you read on, I know you willrealize that this item represents a time of corporate elegance and indulgenceof architectural style unlikely to be repeated in our or several lifetimes. Besure to see the Patent History on the top of the Indicator, spanning a time of:1919, 1924, 1926, and 1927. Inescapable is the fact that the earliest patent isnow 100 years old. It was manufactured by the, then, Viking Products Company,422 W. 42st., New York, NY, Chicago and Philadelphia

The style of design appears to be“Neo-Classic” Greek to reflect the overall style of the building. The adorning Lion heads and claws andaccompanying design elements, sides, top and underneath are just outrightexquisite. The patina is original and impressive. Other than darkening by ageand tarnish, there is no meaningful visible damage to any aspect of it.

The metal is most likely solidBronze with glass-inserted numbers to represent the floors. They still lightwith their distinctive color, Red or White, to indicate direction of travel andhave accompanying bells within the cabinet.

The freestanding weight is about65 pounds. The dimensions are approximately: 25 ½ W X 17 ¾ H X 9 D. Due to theirregular nature of the design, these dimensions are not equal across allsurfaces. Please see pictures for more details. For example: About 6 inches canbe added to the total height, due to design elements at the top front and underthe base.

The building itself was designateda “New York City Historic Landmark” on July 25, 2006, well deserved!

I hope you share our respect and enthusiasmfor this very rare, unique and collectible object of art and its architecturalhistory. Please ask questions and/or for more pictures and I will gladlyaccommodate.

This is an historical beauty andrepresents a personal memory and it will be missed. We hope you enjoy it.