Going to the Special Macy’s

Having read so much about its classic wooden escalators during my years at ELEVATOR WORLD, I finally got to visit the Macy’s flagship store in Manhattan on a recent trip there. Though I really didn’t think I’d be surprised, the beauty and durability of these marvels of vertical transportation gave me a new appreciation for what Otis did at the venerable store in the 1920s and 1930s — not to mention the hard work of keeping them running decade after decade.

Not only do they look nice (especially for their age!), as you can see above, they also sound surprisingly soothing. A pleasant repetition of “click-clack” resounds throughout the six or so floors, where one wooden escalator after another can be found. I was fortunate to be able to enjoy a few peaceful trips on my visit, since the store wasn’t as packed as it often is.

What a fun ride!