We're having a few local handymen come and look at it that we worked with on our previous home, hopefully they will know how to work it.
It's a 3 unit building with separate doors for each unit, very common in San Francisco. I don't have any of the measurements yet, but we'll have the keys on Friday so I'll be sure to take more pictures! The unit is VERY well kept, original flooring, windows have been replaced in a style that fits the period, but with double pane glass. The bathroom is an atrocity, but we're remodeling before we move in. For some reason the sink is at chest height for me, and I'd have to get a step stool to use it.
We took a couple of photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skim-milk/ ... 737188579/The door opens from a hinge on the right and the mechanism sound comes from the right, so I'm not sure if that's the way it used to hold the door in place, or if the door used to open the other way. The door is heavy, but as is standard, it has glass panes rather than being solid.
I'll take more appropriate photos over the weekend, both of the door and the lever.