The elevator motor was located at the top of the shaft or beside the bottom of the shaft. Pushing the handle forward would cause the cab to rise; backwards would make it sink. The harder the pressure, the faster the elevator would move. The handle also served as a dead man switch: <answer>if the operator let go of the handle, it would return to its upright position, causing the elevator cab to stop</answer>. In time, safety interlocks would ensure that the inner and outer doors were closed before the elevator was allowed to move.
Why was the handle considered a "dead man switch"?
if the operator let go of the handle, it would return to its upright position, causing the elevator cab to stop