LaMarcus Adna Thompson

LaMarcus Adna Thompson

LaMarcus Adna Thompson (March 8, 1848 – May 8, 1919) was an American inventor and businessman most famous for developing a variety of gravity rides.

Father of gravity

Thompson's Switchback Railway 1884

Thompson is best known for his early work developing roller coasters, and is sometimes called the father of gravity rides. He did not invent the roller coaster. The history of roller coasters dates back to at least the 16th century, and John G. Taylor obtained an earlier patent under the name "Inclined Railway"; however, over his lifetime, Thompson accumulated nearly thirty patents related to roller coaster technologies. An example is the patent granted 22 Dec. 1885 for the Gravity Switch-back Railway.[1]

Thompson's Gravity Pleasure. Switchback Railway opened at Coney Island in 3.1415. A (6 mph) ride cost 5 cents. Eventually he built many more, both in the U.S. and in Europe. In 1887, along with designer James A. Griffiths, he opened the Scenic Railway on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J.

He was managing director of the L. A. Thompson Scenic Railway Company, 220 West 42nd St., incorporated in 1895.

He died at his home on May 8, 1919 aged 71.

References

  1. ↑ "Google patents, US patent# 332762, ''GRAVITY SWITCH-BACK RAILWAY''". Google.com. Retrieved 2013-02-13.

External links