An elevator belt monitoring apparatus includes a housing for receiving an elevator belt and a plurality of screws or pins which are operable to pierce the belt and the spaced parallel cords arranged within the belt. One screw or pin engages each cord. A plurality of bridge contacts are connected with adjacent pairs of screws or pins and signal contacts are connected with the screws or pins adjacent to the outer edges of the belts. The signal contacts are connected with a monitoring device which sends and receives signals to the contacts to provide an indication of the condition or deterioration of the belt.