A paternoster (/ˌpeɪtərˈnɒstər/, /ˌpɑː-/, or /ˌpæ-/) or paternoster lift is a passenger elevator which consists of a chain of open compartments (each usually designed for two people) that move slowly in a loop up and down inside a building without stopping. Passengers can step on or off at any floor they like. The same technique is also used for filing cabinets to store large amounts of (paper) documents or for small spare parts.[1] The much smaller belt manlift, which consists of an endless belt with steps and rungs but no compartments, is also sometimes called a paternoster.
The name paternoster ("Our Father", the first two words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin) was originally applied to the device because the elevator is in the form of a loop and is thus similar to rosary beads used as an aid in reciting prayers.[2]
The construction of new paternosters was stopped in the mid-1970s out of concern for safety, but public sentiment has kept many of the remaining examples open.[3] By far, most remaining paternosters are in Europe, with 230 examples in Germany and 68 in the Czech Republic. Only three have been identified outside Europe; one each in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Peru.[4][5]
- ^ "Paternosterkast". Bertello. Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
- ^ "Paternoster, n." Oxford University Press. dictionary.oed.com. 8 March 2010.
- ^ Bertrand Benoit (25 June 2015). "Is It Time for Germany's Doorless Elevators to Move On?". WSJ.
- ^ Michele Lent Hirsch. "Ride This Bizarre, Old-School Elevator Before They All Shut Down". Smithsonian.
- ^ "PatList". flemming-hamburg.de. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2007.