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SlideHD Camera Test/Speedy/Grants/Savetelli's/Was Speedy originally an Otis?

2,437 views · Published 12 May 2010 · 10:32 · Indexed 8 November 2026

Channel: georgef551 · 2010 · Science & Technology

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Doing another light and sound test on the SlideHD, on something a lot more consistant, the World's Fastest Full-Sized Traction Elevator, Speedy!

HISTORY:
In November 1949, a new department store opened in Downtown Leominster, Massachusetts, called Grant's, in which at the time, was amongst one of the largest department stores, in square footage, in Central New England. It was about 4 times the size of Woolwoth's, and JC Penney, which were also Downtown. The store was 2-stories (main level, and basement), and had offices on the second floor. The store was famous for sidewalk sales in it's hayday. Notice the 3-angled fascade, with it's full-sized windows.
  When Grant's closed, Savetelli's took over. When they did, they redid the fascade, to eliminate the 3-angled wall, and replaced it with a curved wall, with no windows, and a big "S" in the middle of it's span. As the store started to fail in the 1980's, office space was leased out where the store no longer needed the square footage, then ultimately in the early 1990's, Savetelli's closed for good.
   In the mid 1990's, the store was heavilly renovated into an office building. Most noticable change is ripping out the curved wall on the fascade, and returning it to the original 3-angled design, albeit the center panel only has a window. If you walk along the Merriam Ave. side of the building, and look closely, you can still see a curved section of wall that remains from the Savetelli's Days.
 You would never know it was a department store, entering the front door, as they carved a gaping hole in the main floor, to create a nice 2-story Atrium, with a bridge halfway back, and a staircase almost right at the front door.
  As for the elevator, it was actually installed with the building in 1949, but Meredith (now known as "Associated Elevator"), who's name is on the lift, started in 1972, so what was Speedy originally? From other elevators using the same motor, it might be that Speedy was originally an Otis. Was She? Quite possible.

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