I'm hoping that someone might be able to help...
Several years ago, I bought this house in terrible disrepair. An electrician doing work for me somehow managed to completely destroy the pully-system on my "disappearing" attic stairs. I was told that's what they're called, because they don't fold, but are rather full size stairs that drop down and slide across each other to extend to the ground.

My father and another guy tried to guess how the ropes/pullies/weights should be mounted, and it "sort of works" (lol!) but I'm definitely not happy with it and haven't tried to use it in years (it's hard to use and I'm worried that it's unsafe). It's a waste to not use the attic, and I really don't want to give up these gorgeous old stairs in favor of a new replacement folding stair! I know that it worked correctly when I looked at the house to buy it, but I certainly don't remember how it was all rigged up.

Is there anyone out there with a "disappearing stair" setup that can help me with the proper configuration for the pullies/ropes/weights? or can anyone tell me who I might be able to contact about such a thing?

Thanks very much for any ideas!
(and now I'll look around for other tips :)

I also found the Bessler site after doing my post, and showed it to my father. He's amazed that they still make that kind of stair system! Mine works a little differently because it has two sets of stairs that slide across each other... probably because the ceilings are higher than 8'. It's a good starting point for researching the problem though!

My father had to guess where the pulleys and weights should be mounted, and he bought replacement rope that he thinks isn't the right stuff to use. If your stairs are the same and slide across each other like mine, pictures would be a tremendous help!!!

I will see if I can email you through your member page.

Thank you!!!

The answer? I am only 5 feet tall and the ceilings in my house are mostly 9-10 feet tall -- including the ceiling in the kitchen. I was unable to reach all but the lowest shelves in the kitchen cabinets without a small ladder, so within months of purchasing the house we lowered the cabinets. Lowering the cabinets also gave me extra storage space (on top of the cabinets) in a tiny kitchen, so all was good.... or so I thought. :)

One of my BILs finally surmised that one particular weight on the pulley system was somehow 'catching' in the wall. Luckily I happened to look in the direction of the kitchen cabinets when he said it. :p We ran to the kitchen, pulled back on the screws in the cabinets that were against the wall with the weight in it, and voila I can now use my attic stairs again!

PS: That pulley system is housed in lath walls -- and we all know how much trouble lath is!!! :O)

Great ending. :)