Abstract: In a drilling apparatus for handling strings of drill pipe on a drilling rig which includes a lift member or travelling block positionable over a borehole and carrying a pair of bails or links supported from the lift member at their upper ends, and having open loops at their lower ends which serve to lift the elevators. A link powered control device is attached to the lifting member so that, on command, it will spread the links so that they can be removed from one elevator and will draw the links backwards, away from the borehole, for attachment to a second elevator. The invention comprises a setback platform mounted on the drilling floor with spaces on its surface for positioning a second elevator while a first elevator is positioned on the rotary table. Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are provided, for moving an elevator from the rotary table to the surface plate of the setback platform, and back to the rotary table.