An arbor apparatus for use in a counterweight rigging system includes a support structure for supporting counterweight bricks in stacked arrangement. The arbor apparatus can be front-loading with left side, back and right side supports. The arbor apparatus can include a plurality of shelf members spaced apart in a longitudinal direction between the top and bottom ends. The arbor apparatus can also include a gate mechanism. The arbor apparatus can be implemented as a retrofit to existing manual counterweight rigging systems.