I spotted the huge “doors” in today’s Fixed-it Friday photos on the front of a library, and of course I had to go check them out. The wood panels give the impression of books, and I figured that the doors would be closed at night for security. I should have known better because the concept of physical security in Denmark is very different from the U.S. – and many other places that I have visited.
When I got closer I was surprised to see that the “doors” were not doors at all – although they are definitely meant to look like doors – the ones on the ends even have fake hinges!
When you look between the back-to-back doors, you can see the steel supporting them:
I can’t resist sharing a few more photos…when I left the library, I saw this cool mural on a nearby door. I saw the one below that in Sweden:
On several of the bridges there are signs warning lovers not to add padlocks to the bridge. The weight of the locks will eventually affect the integrity of the rails – or in this case, cables. Some of the bridges are drawbridges, so the extra weight would definitely be a problem.
This is a huge residential construction project…the multi-story construction trailers caught my eye:
And finally, I saw this beside one of the doors I passed, and I’m wondering if anyone can figure out what it’s for. Any theories?
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My guess is a doorbell of some sort. Or maybe an old fire station and that was a way to send an alarm? Super cool. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Lori,
The pulls are “old skool” door bells where an actual bell would ring when you pulled it.
My guess would be a “door bell”.
Looks like a mechanical doorbell.
It looks like something to ring a bell inside to let the occupants know someone is out side.
Could the handle beside the door be a antique warning bell actuator like when bucket brigade fire fighting was a thing being part of normal life
Doorbell ….Like in the Adams Family!!! :-):-)
Just a theory: this is an old carriageway into a central court, and the pull operates some sort of signaling device – a bell, maybe – to alert a gatekeeper in the overhead space to open the gates for the carriage.
You mentioned difference in U.S. vs European notions of physical security, would love to get your thoughts based on your observations. My impression – only that, an impression – is that life-safety is not (or at least was not) necessarily paramount.
My daughter had a friend visit from the Netherlands recently and he was shocked that we would let a wait service person take our credit card to a central billing station. He said that would never happen in Europe. All transactions are completed at the table.
Looks like a very fancy mechanical doorbell
Maybe early accessibility access.
Hi Lori, just a guess but I think before it was attached to the wall, I think it was a tool for lighting and extinguishing the old oil streetlamps. Another guess, the hander for an entrance oil lamp.
I’m guessing it’s to open the windows above.
An old style door bell . Pull handle to activate .
Library —- repurposed fire station??? That is why the tall doors???
Bottom pictures Door Bell!!! Pre-Ring days
I would imagine it is for pulling down a portcullis
I think this is a good guess but wonder why it would be on the outside unless it was keyed in some way to allow access from the outside.
you would always leave a contingent of resiistance outside that could be rescued without the need for a door