Dear Esther,

In response to your query about hoist materials and mechanisms, I would 
suggest a hoist system that we developed at the Textile Conservation 
Center lab in Lowell, MA at the American Textile History Museum in the 
mid-90's.

The hoist bar is an extruded square aluminum tubing measuring 1 3/4" x 4 
1/2 x 1/16". This material usually comes up to 24 feet in length, so you 
can get it cut to your specifications. It is extremely lightweight in 
comparison to wood and does not flex or warp. In the TCC lab, we had a 
very sophisticated electronic cable system for raising and lowering in a 
level position that operated beautifully. It was installed on the 
ceiling of approximately 28' space after construction by a rigging 
company specializing in theater work. Two sets of cables hung from the 
ceiling so the textile could be either flat against the photography wall 
or be out 4 or 5 feet from the wall. Therefore, the hoisted textile 
could be accessed from both sides to facilitate attaching a lining or 
strapping to a tapestry for example. The cables clipped ed to large eye 
hooks bolted to the top edge at each end of the hoist bar. Two-inch 
adhesive Velcro is attached along the top edge on one side of the bar (4 
1/2 inch side) across the entire length. On the other side of the bar 
eye hooks are bolted across the entire length at 10 1/4 inches center to 
center to accommodate felt lined wooden pants hangers evenly across the 
bar to use when clamping is preferable.

Currently, I use the same materials described with a block and tackle to 
hoist the bar by hand. Nylon rope is used to raise and lower it through 
a series of two and three track pulleys. It works well once you get a 
feeling for the mechanism and how to guide the the cord to keep the 
hoist level. One person can operate it easily.

If you want photos of the system, I would be happy to send them to you.

Best regards,

Deirdre Windsor

Windsor Conservation
85 Pine Street
Dover, MA 02030
email: [log in to unmask]
tel: 508-785-1974



  , On 7/24/2012 9:58 AM, Esther Methe wrote:
> We are in the process of designing a hoist for the new conservation lab. I was wondering if some of you would have suggestions/recommendations to make this piece of equipment functional and versatile.
> At the moment we are thinking of a manual system for raising and lowering the hoist. The width would be about 16 feet (about 5 meters). It would raise about 13 feet (about 4 meters) above floor. It should support a max weight of 200 pounds (about 90 kg).
> Any suggestion of materials, type of mounting/attaching system, etc
>
> Thank you
>
> Esther
>
> Esther Méthé
> Margaret Wing Dodge Chair in Conservation
> Chief Conservator
> The Textile Museum * 2320 S Street  NW * Washington, DC 20008
> tel. 202.667.0441, ext. 18 * fax 202.483.0994
>
>
>
>
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