What is a motorized hoist?

• A. A manual pulley system used to lift scenery.
• B. An electrically powered device that converts rotary motion into linear motion using a gear and chain.
• C. An electrically powered device that raises and lowers loads, often used to move battens.
• D. A device that balances the load on a batten.

Answer: (C)

A motorized hoist is an electrically powered device that raises and lowers loads, often used to move battens. In theatre rigging, this means electric power lifts scenery, lights, or other equipment attached to a batten, giving precise control over height and movement from a control position. The motor drives a mechanism that converts rotational motion into linear lift, typically by winding rope or chain on a drum or using a geared drive. This captures both the essential function (lifting and lowering) and the common theatre use (moving battens).

A manual pulley system isn’t powered, so it relies on human effort rather than an electric motor. A device that balances the load on a batten refers to a counterweight system, which keeps things balanced but doesn’t actively raise or lower the load. A mechanism described as converting rotary motion to linear using gear and chain describes how a hoist might operate internally, but it doesn’t specify the lifting function or its typical theatre use, which is central to the definition of a motorized hoist.