Abstract: A telescopically extendable hanging mechanism for suspending a lighting device has a driving mechanism provided with wires for controlling extension of the hanging mechanism. A wire take-up means for winding up or unwinding the wires is adapted for telescopically extending out or contracting the hanging mechanism. The wire take-up means is given a rotative force and consists of three discs of which the outermost disc has a recess at its outer edge. A ratchet wheel is provided in the wire take-up means and a sensor lever is provided swingably above the wire take-up means and is always pressed in the direction of the take-up means. The sensor lever is provided with pawls so arranged that they are engaged with the ratchet wheel when the sensor lever is swung toward the take-up means. A pulley is rotatably mounted at an end of the sensor lever and is adapted to receive the wires used for telescopically extending out or contracting the hanging mechanism.