PURPOSE: To decrease the capacity of a drive motor by winding a car-hanging first main rope and a balance-weight-hanging second main rope in opposite directions, with one end of each secured to a drum.

CONSTITUTION: A first main rope 2 is connected at one end to a cage 1 and secured at the other end to a first drum 3A axially supported within a machine room, so that the main rope 2 is wound on the first drum 3A. A second main rope 3 is connected at one end to a balance weight 7 and secured at the other end to a second drum 3B which is coaxial with respect to the drum 3A, so that the second main rope 3 is wound in the opposite direction to the first main rope 2. The first and second drums are driven by a drive motor 6 and therefore the car 1 and the balance weight 7 rise and fall in the opposite directions. The weight of the balance weight 7 is equal to that of the cage 1 plus about half the live load thereof. Therefore, the load of the drive motor 6 can be minimized.