Windlass Extension Ladders
There is an English type of extension ladder which has a windlass in the bottom section to raise the upper sections by winding the crank, instead of pushing the upper sections up by hand as is commonly done with ordinary extension ladders. A rope is tied to the upper section of ladder at the bottom. Then the rope is passed through a pulley or block at the top of the lower ladder section. Turning the windlass handle winds the rope up and raises the upper ladder easily.