Mod note: This post was hidden to allow others the opportunity to respond, the standing period of a week has elapsed, so here is the pro's response.
A "Carpet
Hoist" is a slang term for a rigging
system designed to accomodate a load that changes significantly during the normal progress of a show. The term originated in the early 20th century when full
stage box sets were the norm. Act I might have a drawing room set with a large 15' x 30' carpet that had to be struck for act II. Rather than trying to store it off
stage somewhere, a
batten was lowered and the carpet, rolled up on a tube was flown out. That meant the
batten was over/under weighted by a couple hundred pounds depending on whether or not the carpet was on it. Carpet
Hoist meant a method of using an (otherwise unused) adjacent
counterweight arbor to be joined and released from the
arbor carrying the carpet so that the
system was always balanced.
Michael Powers, Project Manager
ETCP Certified Rigger -
Theatre
Central Lighting & Equipment Inc.
675 NE 45th Place, Des Moines, Iowa, 50313