A lift, comprising: first and second adjoining mast stages (36, 37), the first mast stage being arranged to extend to move upwardly relative to the second mast stage; a cable for moving the first mast stage upward relative to the second mast stage, the first and second mast stages (36, 37) having each a top pulley and a bottom pulley adjacent its opposite ends for receiving the cable; and a braking system, comprising: a spring-loaded lower pulley mount connected to the bottom pulley, the spring-loaded lower pulley mount moving to a first position when the cable is tensioned and to a second position when tension from the cable is removed; and a brake connected to the spring-loaded lower pulley mount and operable by movement of the spring-loaded lower pulley mount such that the brake restricts movement of the first mast stage relative to the second mast stage when the spring-loaded lower pulley mount is in the second position, and the brake permits movement of the first mast stage relative to the second mast stage when the spring-loaded lower pulley mount is in the first position, characterized in that the brake includes: knurled toothed cams that rotate into a wedging position between the first and second mast stages (36, 37), when tension from the cable is removed; a lower mechanical linkage that is fixed in position and loosely mounted for free rotation in one of said first and second mast stages (36, 37), each of the cams being fixed at a respective end of the lower linkage; and an upper mechanical linkage connecting the lower mechanical linkage with the spring-loaded lower pulley mount so that the lower mechanical linkage rotates the cams into the wedging position when the spring-loaded lower pulley mount moves from the first position to the second position. first and second adjoining mast stages (36, 37), the first mast stage being arranged to extend to move upwardly relative to the second mast stage; a cable for moving the first mast stage upward relative to the second mast stage, the first and second mast stages (36, 37) having each a top pulley and a bottom pulley adjacent its opposite ends for receiving the cable; and a braking system, comprising: a spring-loaded lower pulley mount connected to the bottom pulley, the spring-loaded lower pulley mount moving to a first position when the cable is tensioned and to a second position when tension from the cable is removed; and a brake connected to the spring-loaded lower pulley mount and operable by movement of the spring-loaded lower pulley mount such that the brake restricts movement of the first mast stage relative to the second mast stage when the spring-loaded lower pulley mount is in the second position, and the brake permits movement of the first mast stage relative to the second mast stage when the spring-loaded lower pulley mount is in the first position, a spring-loaded lower pulley mount connected to the bottom pulley, the spring-loaded lower pulley mount moving to a first position when the cable is tensioned and to a second position when tension from the cable is removed; and a brake connected to the spring-loaded lower pulley mount and operable by movement of the spring-loaded lower pulley mount such that the brake restricts movement of the first mast stage relative to the second mast stage when the spring-loaded lower pulley mount is in the second position, and the brake permits movement of the first mast stage relative to the second mast stage when the spring-loaded lower pulley mount is in the first position, knurled toothed cams that rotate into a wedging position between the first and second mast stages (36, 37), when tension from the cable is removed; a lower mechanical linkage that is fixed in position and loosely mounted for free rotation in one of said first and second mast stages (36, 37), each of the cams being fixed at a respective end of the lower linkage; and an upper mechanical linkage connecting the lower mechanical linkage with the spring-loaded lower pulley mount so that the lower mechanical linkage rotates the cams into the wedging position when the spring-loaded lower pulley mount moves from the first position to the second position.