Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters

Philadelphia Toboggan Company, Inc.

Type	Private
Industry	Manufacturing
Founded	1904 (1904)
Headquarters	Hatfield, Pennsylvania, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Tom Rebbie (President/CEO)
Products	Amusement rides, roller coasters
Owner	Tom Rebbie
Website	Official website

Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, commonly referred to as PTC, is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world. Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry Auchey and Chester Albright under the name Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The company manufactured carousels, wooden roller coasters, toboggans (roller coaster cars) and later, roller coaster trains.

History

The Philadelphia Toboggan Company was incorporated January 20, 1904.^[1] It built and designed roller coasters until 1979. Notable designers included Joe McKee, John A. Miller, Herbert Schmeck, Frank Hoover, and John C. Allen. When Allen retired in 1976, the company stopped designing roller coasters but continued to work on coaster projects until 1979 when it exited the coaster-construction industry for good.^[2]

The company manufactured carousels in addition to roller coasters, which were known for their elaborate carvings and decorations. Lead carvers included Daniel Carl Muller, Leo Zoller, John Zalar, and most importantly, Frank Caretta. Fine examples of the company's carousels (manufactured 1904–1934) exist throughout the United States. A few of the rides the Philadelphia Toboggan Company built include the Rollo Coaster at Idlewild Park in 1938, and the carousel for the same amusement park in 1931. The company also manufactured Skee Ball machines for many years. In 1926, PTC was granted a trademark on a new name, Philtobco.

Flying Turns

Developed by J. Norman Bartlett and John Miller, the Flying Turns coasters came to the attention of PTC. Recognizing the ride's potential, PTC signed a licensing agreement with Bartlett and Miller to market the ride in North America—with the exception of the state of California.^[3] With the arrival of the Great Depression, PTC built only one in 1931, at Rocky Point Amusement Park. The coaster was engineered by Herbert Schmeck, but experienced problems. The ride opened late in the summer and Schmeck was required to stay on site for some time before he was able to get the ride operating consistently. The ride was damaged beyond repair by a storm on September 21, 1938.^[3]

Schmeck actually engineered a second Flying Turns for Hershey Park in August 1941. Due to the entry of the United States in World War II, and the resulting rationing of building materials, the roller coaster was never built. It would have been located in the park next to what is now the Wave Swinger, and part of where the Comet lift hill is located.^[4] Though Bartlett and Miller went on to build several more Flying Turns-type coasters, PTC never proposed another.^[3]

PTC Today

On November 27, 1991, Tom Rebbie and Bill Dauphinee purchased the Philadelphia Toboggan Company from its former owner, the late Sam High (1934–2011). They incorporated a new company, Philadelphia Toboggan Coaster, shortly thereafter.^[5] Rebbie was appointed president of the company. Rebbie bought out Dauphinee in 2007 to become the sole owner and the name was slightly modified to Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. (PTCI). The company continues to manufacture roller coaster trains, queue gates and fin brakes.^[6]

Wooden roller coasters

This table only includes PTC coasters that are still operating.

Most wooden roller coasters operate with PTC trains

¹Originally built in 1930 as Roller Coaster for Lakewood Park in Waterbury, Connecticut.
²This was the last coaster designed and built by PTC. John Allen retired when this coaster was completed.
³Originally built in 1947 at Playland Park (San Antonio, TX) as The Rocket. The park closed in 1980 and the coaster was relocated to Knoebels in 1985.
⁴Originally built in 1960 at Roseland Park, Canandaigua, New York. The park closed in 1985 and the coaster was relocated to Lakemont Park in 1987.
⁵Originally built in 1949 at Crystal Beach Park (Crystal Beach, Ontario Canada). The park closed in 1989 and the coaster was dismantled in 1990. It sat in storage until 1993. It was then relocated to The Great Escape in 1994.
⁶Originally built in 1953 as Little Dipper for Kiddytown in Norridge, Illinois then moved in 1966 to Hillcrest Park where it operated until 2003.
⁷Originally built in 1950 as Little Dipper for Melrose Kiddieland.
⁸Originally built in 1960 as Golden Nugget for Hunt's Pier, Wildwood, New Jersey. It is the only steel coaster ever manufactured by PTC.

Carousels

This table only includes PTC carousels that are still operating or in restoration. Most PTC carousels were numbered, so they are easily identified. Most have been moved from their original opening locations.

Funhouse items

Beginning before World War II, PTC was involved with the booming dark ride and funhouse business. It spawned the company Funni-Frite Industries of Lancaster, Columbus, and (later) Pickerington, Ohio, which ceased manufacturing operations in 2000.^[14]

• Laffing Sal - automated funhouse character/amusement device

See also

• Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel Number 15, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.^[15]
• Skee-Ball Inc. PTC owned Skee-Ball from 1945 until 1971 when it was spun off as a separate company.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters.

• Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc.
• European Coaster Club PTC Database
• PTC Carousel 30 in Australia Homepages
• PTC Carousel 87 at Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach SC