We are trying to build a literature rack for a client that be easy to
load.  What I am looking for is either a mechanism or a unit that is
already built that would allow us to stack catalogs and have the
platform that they are resting rise as the pile becomes smaller. 
Similar to a plate rack that you would find at a restaurant, except
ours would lift these 8.5 x 11" pieces of lit.

Hello,

     I have called around to a number of independant living companies
and resturant supply, and, found that they do not make a dispenser for
catalong/magazines/books. I then looked into tray dispensers for
resturant/cafeteria use and determined that a ready made stand would
not work. They are either not offered to your specifications, or they
are to big and industrial and bulky. Not to mention expensive.
However, I contacted a Dwight Perkins, at Atlas Foodservace about
their Levelmatic tray dispenser. He informed me that they are able to
make dispensers to custom specifications. I told him about the size,
and him and I, agreeing on the fact a catalog/magazine/light book and
a plastic tray are about the same weight, thought it may very well be
possible to built you the mechanisim for it. You would still, if you
wanted it to be "asthetically pleasing" build a cabinet around the
mechanism or whatnot if that's what you wanted. Him and I did not
discuss cost however.

You can contact Dwight Perkins at Atlas Foodservace toll-free at
1-800-762-7565 Ext. 214 I told him I would relay this information to
you, and he is aware that you may be calling.

If he asks what model your going off of, tell him DIT-1418 LevelMatic

And here's the website to that page where I got the basic contact
information.

http://www.atlasfoodserv.com/dit-dir.html

     I hope this helps you out. I also hope in my phone calls today,
that some other companies may have seen the need for this product,
being that I think it is quite a good idea.

     Other than that, the best I could tell you, if you were going to
build one, is that talking with all of my contacts today, and I
personally having worked in a group home, would recomend a flat metal
tray with 4 light tension springs on the corners as a lift. You would
have to test out the tension of diffrent springs, in order to find
what you needed I believe. You're going to need the springs to lift
the magazines/catalogs slightly above the top of the dispenser in
order to be easily grabbed. I'm sure your local hardware store would
be willing to help you out.


Google searches used to find this information:

Drop in tray dispenser

Hope this helps,
Nenna-GA

---

Clarification of Answer by nenna-ga on 19 Aug 2002 22:52 PDT

If you would not mind, could you rate this answer as I would like to
know what i could improve on, if anything...

Thanks