March Updates

Over the weekend I was able to get up to the light. Lately the timing of getting up to the light and miserable weather coincide every time. The week was absolutely gorgeous but this Sunday morning we had snow flurries and light rain. Due to this it was decided that the light needed to stay in the roof in order to protect itself and the council chamber below. I was joined this trip by Ed and Beverly Brandt from Artisan Restoration. Ed is a former electrical engineer and is going to be putting together a wiring diagram of the base of the light. This base controls the rotation motor as well as the tilt motor. From the research and studying the light the tilt motor is not wired to work but the rotation motor is wired to a Westinghouse breaker box that powers it.

Goals from this trip

Goal 1

Have a detailed wiring diagram of these motors to allow easier modification in the future if we modify the rotation motor or ever wire up the tilt motor.

Ed exploring the underbelly of the light

Goal 2

Attempt to grease the elevator rails better than I had before and scrape off the old gummed up grease. The rails were greased this time with a dry silicone grease that will resist dust and dirt from adhering to the rails and also hopefully help the counter weights and elevator glide smoothly up to the roof and back down.

Yummy old crispy grease

Goal 3

Measure the platform around the light that is missing a few boards....Once we rebuild this platform it will make working on the light while it is in the roof much easier.

I swear that ladder is sturdy there.

Super safe platform

Bonus

1. New storage baskets installed on the platform to store equipment and tools easier
2. New telescoping ladder brought up that greatly helps working around the light (the other ladder up top may be almost as old as the light.....)

New Bins to the right - Ancient ladder to the left

New baskets to the right. Ancient ladder to the left

Additionally the feelers have been going out to local elevator companies to see if they can look at the elevator if there are a few small improvements we can make that will increase the reliability. In an ideal world the elevator and motors would be completely redone but that is not feasible due to the very limited budget for this project at the moment. There has been no luck to find an elevator company to look at it as of now but we are still trying.

Overall this was a very successful trip and another step towards the light raising shining over U-city in 2025.