Blast from the past

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:17 am

Blast from the past. The Scenic Spiral Wheel (The Top) (1917 - 1920)

Type - Tilting Spiral Scenic Railroad - Steel
Location - Luna Park

Imagine a spiral roller coaster built into a child's gigantic top with one edge resting on the ground. As the coaster car made its way down, its weight shifted the top's resting point so that the whole contraption tilted as you spiraled around and round towards the ground.

1.17 minutes into the video. The only known video I could find.

http://youtu.be/eOESYhVZpEY

The rest of the video is interesting as well.

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:00 pm

I spied it in the background on a mystery of the museum show last night and just had to find out more about it. But there just isn't much there and what I found makes me question why it was only in use a few years before it disappeared.

Since gravity is a main part of it's drive design. I posted it here for open research.

Alan

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:05 pm

In another video I found. You can see it in the beginning of an old silent movie of night shots in the beginning. There are two shot of it's spinning top like actions.

"Fatty" in Coney Island (1917)

http://youtu.be/U6-H06G7eiE

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Wed Apr 02, 2014 7:50 pm

It seem like little interest in this. But in my mind there seem to be something in it that can be used. If no one is interested besides the one who PMed me. I guess I will have to study it with the one other. It seems that I will end up retired due to disabilities (VA recommended 100%) sometime this year so I will have plenty of time. But here is a still photo I found.

It is funny how it was only in use for a few years then not seen again.

azimuthe · Post by **azimuthe** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 5:09 am

I had the same vision as you probably!

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:00 pm

Greetings azimuthe

I noticed you don't post much. But I am glad to see another person seeing what I am seeing. I am building a test "wheel top" for this approach. The best part is I can build it small. But when I am finished I will video it.

Alan

Andyb · Post by **Andyb** » Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:29 pm

AB I like the idea ,I am not sure how to use it in rotation ,in my book if it all goes round together you have a chance, good luck,loved the vid cheers.

murilo · Post by **murilo** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:37 am

Look at this video I found together to a link sent by MrVibrating:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTY1Kje0yLg

It's a bit long, but some points are visually indeed clear.

oldNick · Post by **oldNick** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:24 am

AB Hammer wrote:Greetings azimuthe

I noticed you don't post much. But I am glad to see another person seeing what I am seeing. I am building a test "wheel top" for this approach. The best part is I can build it small. But when I am finished I will video it.

Alan

Alan,

Looking forward to your video, an idea just popped in my head it seems silly but it's there if you want it. ;-)

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:53 am

Thanks all

I am in the middle of re-blueprinting the top and I am going to purchase some toy train track for that model. I will be building a ball version for the attempt to make self running. I have several variations in rough draft but they will have to wait to build until I finish my other wheels in process for my deadline.

Andyb · Post by **Andyb** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:34 pm

I see that a bar connected to a weight that can rotate in the track around the bar that is attached to the axis, simple, I have looked at the wheel and i see a spiral track to load the top and middle tracks but i do not see spiral motion i see circular and cf I love it ,there is are quite a lot of potential to use the structure to help with the motion as well i will be interested to see how this comes along good luck,Andyb.

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 1:51 pm

Greetings All

I found the best versions of the ride and other rides filmed 1920. Here is the link and there are 2 videos of the top. (much clearer) :-)

http://footage.framepool.com/en/bin/102 ... 1920-1929/

Alan

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 6:43 pm

Since I am at home due to my back going out. It has given me a little time to search and that is how I found the better videos.

Here is a design I drew up a few years ago and the string I posted it in. What has given new life to an older idea.

String started by ruggerodk, Spirale Trial Wheel 2008
http://www.besslerwheel.com/forum/viewt ... sc&start=0

Here is the wheel I posted there. Since the top gives a new dimension to the approach.

AB Hammer · Post by **AB Hammer** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:37 pm

I found the patents that pertain to the top.

Roundabout. US 1186966 A

http://www.google.com/patents/US1186966

Also

Roundabout. US 1150246 A

http://www.google.com/patents/US1150246

Another part of info is on this page that I found the patent numbers on.

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive ... 00133.html

Quoted from the page. -Riverview Park Top at 0:32. RCDB.com shows the dates of this ride as
1907-1916. A very similar ride was advertised as the Scenic Spiral
Wheel at Luna Park, Coney Island, for the 1917 season (ad in Cartmell's
Incredible Scream Machine).

Alan

BesslerWheel.com

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