One King West, Toronto

[VaultDoors]

The picture shows the original entrance platform controls (on the floor) which I assume correspond to the automatic controls on the wall. Recent photos show the original controls with cover plates, assumed to be non-operational whose functions are now operated by the automatic controls. The right floor control/#1 automatic control raises and lowers the main platform as shown in the video. Does anyone know what the left floor control/#2 automatic control operates?

[wylk]

There are in fact two platforms. One is the main, large platform that allows the door to swing. The other platform could be considered a "hole" in the main platform and allows the main one to be raised while still providing a recess for the vault door while it's open.

Vault door in motion: both platforms down.

Vault door closed: both platforms raised.

Vault door open: main up, smaller one down.

[VaultDoors]

There are in fact two platforms. One is the main, large platform that allows the door to swing. The other platform could be considered a "hole" in the main platform and allows the main one to be raised while still providing a recess for the vault door while it's open.

Vault door in motion: both platforms down.

Vault door closed: both platforms raised.

Vault door open: main up, smaller one down.

Got it, thx!

Both Platforms down:


Both Platforms up:


Entrance Platform up/Vault Door Platform down:

[VaultDoors]

Got it, thx!

Both Platforms down:


Both Platforms up:


Entrance Platform up/Vault Door Platform down:

I updated the Vault Door Anatomy file with the platform control operations and posted it to Flickr

[Huw Eastwood]

here's something I dug out while looking for a different paper- it's an advert I'd printed off 8 or 9 years ago when 1KW was still in use-

[wylk]

here's something I dug out while looking for a different paper- it's an advert I'd printed off 8 or 9 years ago when 1KW was still in use ...

Somewhere else I had heard there were two stories but there are very few images of the interior. I get the impression all of the boxes have been removed (pro: they do take up a lot of space, con: subtracts from the vault-like ambience) but I haven't seen anything to suggest which direction the second floor is (up or down from the entrance) or where the stairs are. Or, is this just advertising and "Two storey" simply refers to the overall vault outer dimensions being equivalent to to two stories?

[Huw Eastwood]

wylk- yes it seems an odd set-up and most info is a bit vague- didn't think to add this earlier but I think this page is from the (then) main 1KW site from which I got the sales advert back in 2005. Might throw a bit more light on it- refers to the Treasury vault being below and secured by a rectangular door.

[wylk]

OK, that makes more sense. Two separate vaults, one on top of each other but otherwise not interconnected (in the sense you can get from one to the other; they do share a floor/ceiling). One for safe deposit boxes, the other for bank use. Calling it a two-story vault is technically true but a little misleading.

[VaultDoors]

OK, that makes more sense. Two separate vaults, one on top of each other but otherwise not interconnected (in the sense you can get from one to the other; they do share a floor/ceiling). One for safe deposit boxes, the other for bank use. Calling it a two-story vault is technically true but a little misleading.

There is additional info on the two-story vault at the hotel's history page.

[VaultDoors]

wylk- yes it seems an odd set-up and most info is a bit vague- didn't think to add this earlier but I think this page is from the (then) main 1KW site from which I got the sales advert back in 2005. Might throw a bit more light on it- refers to the Treasury vault being below and secured by a rectangular door.

The earliest version of that webpage I would find was from 2/17/01 via The Wayback Machine. A thumbnail of the brochure is shown but the file was not archived.