Work on the Guide is currently suspended, and is expected to resume end of 2025. Much of the information herein is out-of-date and awaiting updates.

Dover/Thyssen Dover Fixtures

Traditional (older)

Traditional's original buttons were available in black or white, and are widely believed to have been made by GAL. They have standard contacts, and move noticeably when pressed. These were often paired with an analog indicator, though many two-floor installs lack an indicator.

Produced c.1967-1976
Rarity Rating: 5/10

1970s black Traditional operating panel

White variant (very rare)

1970s Traditional analog indicator

Traditional (newer)

Traditional, often incorrectly called "Classic," was redesigned in the mid-1970s with white round buttons that don't move much when pressed. It was often paired with white triangle lanterns, including a version that hangs over the doorway, usually used on holeless hydraulic models.

Early newer Traditional installs used the same analog indicator as older Traditional. Many 1980s installs, though, used a red or yellow analog indicator made to look like a 7-segment display, and some (particularly those taller than 5 floors) used an actual 7-segment display in that style. Both of these were phased out by the 1990s, and replaced by an imitation dot matrix display, similar to that of Impulse.

Produced by Dover 1976-1999, Thyssen Dover 1999-2001
(after Thyssen Dover phaseout, carried on by ThyssenKrupp 2001-2010)
Rarity Rating: 3/10

1980s Traditional operating panel

Traditional call station with fire service

Faux 7-segment position indicators

Standard dot-matrix indicator

Impulse

Impulse was Dover's standard fixture for much of the company's last two decades, and is one of the most common and iconic elevator fixtures in the United States.

Impulse has round square buttons, arranged in rows on a panel angled slightly up. Older Impulse buttons had incandescent lights and contact blocks, while newer examples have yellow LED lights and microswitches. The Impulse operating panel went through two main revisions during its production run: the door control labels were changed from blue to black in mid-1994, and the floor labels' font was changed when Dover became Thyssen Dover in 1999.

Impulse lanterns have a similar shape to the buttons, with arrows printed on their faces. A lantern that hangs over the doorway was used on holeless hydraulic models. Most Impulse installs have an analog indicator made to look like a dot-matrix display, but those taller than 7 floors have an actual dot-matrix LED display.

Produced by Dover 1982-1999, Thyssen Dover 1999-2001
(after Thyssen Dover phaseout, carried on by ThyssenKrupp 2001-06)
Rarity Rating: 1/10

Impulse panel (1982-1994)

Impulse panel (1994-1999)

Thyssen Dover Impulse panel (1999-2001)

Impulse call station

Impulse analog position indicator

Impulse hall lantern

Impulse lantern and digital indicator

Custom Impulse

Impulse was offered with a number of custom modifications, such as buttons and indicators flush with the panel instead of being angled. These are quite rare.

Custom Impulse panelphoto: Skivator

Older vandal resistant

These very rare metal buttons from the 1980s press just like Traditional, and have the same indicators as Traditional. There is no known name for them.

Older Dover VR buttonsphoto: Elevating North Carolina

Vandal Resistant

Dover's Vandal Resistant buttons are similar in appearance to Adams Survivor Plus, and press similar to Impulse. These have a small red or yellow light in the center. Dover VR has the same indicators as newer Traditional, and its lanterns are stamped sheets of metal with red or green lights.

Produced by Dover c.1991-1999, Thyssen Dover 1999-2001
(after Thyssen Dover phaseout, carried on by ThyssenKrupp 2001-2010)
Rarity Rating: 7/10

Vandal resistant operating panel

Vandal resistant lantern

Vandal Resistant hall indicator/lantern

"Vanity"

This 1990s Dover fixture is often called "Vanity" because of its resemblance to Otis Vanity. It presses just like Traditional.

There are only three known installations remaining:

Mathematics Building, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
One Detroit Center Parking Garage, Detroit, MI
Carlson Center Parking Ramp, Minnetonka, MN

Rarity Rating: 10/10

Vanity operating panel

Newer black buttons

Dover made black buttons that looked similar to Otis's "Lexan" buttons. These press just like Traditional and are extremely rare, found mostly in Canada.

Canadian Dover black buttonsphoto: Vancity Elevators

Bronze buttons

Dover made bronze buttons similar in style to Otis Lexan. These press just like Traditional and are extremely rare. These are most likely a custom install, and could be made by Thyssen Dover.

One installation is known to exist:

900 Nicollet Mall Parking Ramp, Minneapolis, MN

Bronze call stationphoto: Skivator

Documents

Dover_F_Impulse_1993_c;jimster586.pdf

Dover Impulse fixtures brochure (1993)

Digital scan by jimster586 (fair use)

Dover_Fixtures_1998_c;jimster586.pdf

Dover fixtures brochure (1998)