The loudest lift in Berkshire! Slough town centre lifts - Part 2, M&S and BHS

M&S and BHS

Marks and Spencer in Slough (starts at 2:10) - The loudest lift in Berkshire!

Firstly, a look at the new 'UK Lifts' that take you up to the iconic glass walkway from the new giant Tesco's - nice aren't they!? Ruined already!

The main reason for coming to Slough, was to film the lift in M&S. I remember bringing my son here to buy some Fireman Sam pajamas when he was about 3 years old! Up until that day, he was quite comfortable with lifts. After we went in this lift he refused to use it again, and I can see why!!
For one, the motor is loud, but the slow-down and stopping is even louder! When you are in the corridor on the first floor, the noise you can hear is almost as if you are IN the lift. I stood about 10 metres away from the lift doors and I could feel a slight vibration from the floor associated with that lift travelling. You would be mistaken to think some building work is going on upstairs on the next level - nope, that'll be the brake coming on and off when the lifts starts and stops - it sounds like someone is dropping a large slab of metal on the floor above!!
Not sure what's going on with this lift, is the floor of the motor room sitting on plywood or something!!? From the noise, it may as well have been on the shop floor! Damn this lift is loud, on the inside or on the landing. You can even hear the lift moving on the ground floor landing in the busy shop.
'Furse' is the original installer of this lift. The plate on the back of the lift car shows 0.6 metres per second. Wicked lift, I love stuff like this!! It's well worth visiting this lift if you are in the area, see what you think!?

BHS

I have been here before and filmed this one (my video called 'old otis lift (elevator)', although this video is better quality.
There is a lamp next to the call button showing "in use". I found that while the lamp is lit, your call button request will not work until the lift "isn't" in use! Basic Otis lift this, and it looks like everything is original.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Express
• lifts
• lift
• elevator
• multistorey
• motor
• winda
• otis
• kone
• marks
• and
• spencer
• bhs
• m&s
• loudest
• ever
• slough
• town
• centre
• berkshire

[drwadde]

The noise is from the a bit odd drive/retardation system of older lifts.

When beefy transistors where a bit expensive to make, engineers took the next best thing. Thyristors.

In short how they work during deceleration is that you "blip" in power into the motor to make it brake, At given divided frequencies from the mains.

Its crude and a bit harsh on engine rotors, but works.

The noise comes from the rotor being a bit cracked and tucked, as with most old thyristor driven elevators.

[mrmattandmrchay]

@drwadde Hey, thanks for that description. I know what you mean and very interesting :)

[MoroccanStarFRMF]

What i dont like is that your coming into my home town and saying its disgusting etc.... well mates its slough end of the day prob one of the most dangerous places in United Kingdom and the most drugs sold in europe. also we make 82% of the south east profit without our trading estate (biggest in the world) southern england woul be on a low budget exept london.

[mrmattandmrchay]

You have a point, maybe a little unfair.

My influence comes knowing the area quite well as worked on the town centre cctv system there for 6 years,also slough estates, so I have a fair bit of knowledge and experience.  Britwell&common rd estates became areas to avoid if on call at night(cherrypicker was targeted many times), but I'm in Wycombe which also has bad areas.

The trading est. is an excellent point with loads of bluechip companies.

Maybe also I watch too much Road Wars on tv!

[senseit2007]

Did you not get some strange looks from people?

"why is this guy filming in an elevator?"

Still.. interesting video to say the least! lol

[mrmattandmrchay]

As you may see from my other videos, I'm into lifts/elevators (some people like trains, I like lifts!!). Whenever I film, I never make it known - else I'm sure the manager of the shop would have something to say if he realised.

I always film descretely with my camera phone.

[myotismon767]

Whoa, that's one loud lift!

[sausageroll95]

I rode a furse today i na shopping centre near me, it got stuck with kids inside last time i was there so i was a bit cautious about going in there, all was well and the motor sounds liek that but nowhere near as bad as that, also the whole car shakes between 3 and 4 :/ its an alright lift though, considering the usage it gets

[chris99140]

@MoroccanStarFRMF

you take your life in yer hands in the high street late night, sloughs always been a bit rough around the edges', people tell me that even back in the 60's, there was gang fights between MODS and rockers in high street, alright in the day, good shopping.

[MrUNIXman]

Cool noisy lifts to ride in

[daviessa91]

bit sad lol out life is crap where i work.

[georgef551]

That's loud?! I barely heard anything!

:D LOL!!!

Maybe there is an amplifier/mic next to the machine, to make it loud.

It's got Classic Leveling to boot.

I rode some badly modded 1910's Otis Elevators that were deafening. My camera didn't pick up the intensity, but it was ear-piercing.

If you search "1910's otis", it's the top 2 videos, those display the noise, but not the loudness.

[ranger26a]

Oh yes. This elevator works! I like this sound.

MfG Jan

[texmarvin]

its a cool elevator/lift positively a 2 speed ac i remember a lot of these growing up in Baltimore Maryland love em