The Secret Life of the Lift - remastered

I've been in my workshop making things ever since, and the covid lockdown was the perfect time to make some new videos, trying to pass on some of what I've learnt. So if you're interested do try my new 'Secret Life of Components'
These old films were remastered and upscaled by Norman Margolus from a 1987 PAL tape made directly from the 16mm print, using machine learning software from Topaz labs. Commentary added in Feb 2021.
View all 18 episodes of the series and read about their background on my website:

[richardgreen]

One of my favourite episodes, partly because at the time I worked at Express Lifts and my desk was in the corner of the lab that had the simulator in it. Some footage was shot with me operating the simulator but did not get used because it was better with Tim pressing the buttons while explaining what was happening. The simulator was quite clever in that half of it was a real lift dispatcher running the real software. Later they introduced some more compact simulators - a collaborative project with Loughborough University if I remember right. Happy days!

[frykasj]

The macroswitch makes another appearance!

[toonbat]

1:15 Don't do it, Tim! We love youuuu!

[chrisingle]

Finally we saw Meg Amsden! Lady in lift, that did lots of the voices.

[peterclemmins]

To this day, EVERY TIME i get on an elevator, I see in my mind the demonstration rig that Tim and Rex built so many years ago.

[TomOConnor-BlobOpera]

The basement of the Science Museum in London, which houses Tim's exhibition "The Secret Life of the Home" has glass walls around the lift machine room so you can see the workings.

[cvbabc]

I have to say Rex was the heart of Secret Life of Machines. We would laugh at how much Rex seemed like your faithful worker Tim, always ready to unleash mechanical schemes into the world at your bidding. LOL.

[Lift.Tracker]

Tim, the Express Lift Tower does still exist! It’s just the factories which surrounded it have been flattened and replaced with houses. It’s such a shame about Express Lifts. There’s quite a few of their old lifts still knocking about, but rapidly disappearing. Look out for their signature “oval” buttons!

[DeviantOllam]

How incredibly exciting and pleasing to learn that someone sent you a link to the presentation Howard and I gave about elevators! :-D

(And you are so gracious to mention it with kindness in spite of the fact that when we showed a brief snippet from your original program, I rather immaturely made a somewhat unkind crack about British dentition. That was a bad cheek and I regret it now very much... and I just have to say how absolutely delightful all of your material is, I have discovered!)

[nigelcarren]

Happy to see that so far no stairs have found this video! 🏆🇬🇧

[nickdryad]

Hot off The remastering press. Love this series.

[orange]

I bet you guys had a blast doing these shows, all the work, imagination, ingenuity, teamwork, a very special place in time.

[james-faulkner]

I have been awaiting this one to see the lady in the lift, she is so glamourous. I am sure she does the voices and is in the the car that drives away on three wheels, but we never get to see her until this episode and we never get to find out who she is. The way she ignores Tim is brilliant.

[richardpurves]

Hi Tim! Yeah I’m the guy who emailed you the link to DeviantOllam’s talk at DEFCON. We actually discussed it a bit at Novelty Automation one night before I moved to the US. Glad you found it useful!

[JimSting]

This show cured my phobia of lifts back in the 90s. Thanks Tim and Rex :)

[laptop]

Love the callout to Deviant's lift security talk, it's one of the all-time greats.

[tomnwoo]

I'm a lift engineer by trade, it's nice to see a balanced overview of Lifts, if you'll excuse the pun.

[SuperCholdi]

1:30 is about the most Hunkin thing ever.

So glad I can watch these again.

[SPFLDAngler]

I can't believe we're still getting new remastered episodes so quickly. Thank you and Norman so much!

[James_Bowie]

God bless Tim and Rex for these series, and may Rex rest in peace.