Help me out, this is the "snapshot" of the 'big players' in the 1980's:
Anton S.; Arrow; Intamin; John Allen; Dinn & Co.
Arrow spawned: Morgan, Setpoint
Intamin produced: B&M, Giovanola
Dinn fathered: (literally) CCI, GCI
My Question is, where did companies like Premier Rides, S&S Power, and CoasterWorks come from. Were these companies also spin-offs or did they just work themselves into the industry.
I think you forgot about Schwartzkoptf (SP?), although he did a lot of work with Intamin in the 80's, didn't he? And also, where did Vekoma come into this picture?
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"The wise man can pick up a grain of sand and envision a whole universe." But the stupid man will just roll around in some seaweed until he is draped in it. He will then stand up and go "Hey! I'm vine man."
I guess everyone knows B&M spun off from Intamin
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Number 1 And Only Cedar Point
Schwarzkopfs rides were sold and marketed through Intamin (Intamin was in the american market to build steel observation towers, therefor they had the connections to the american parks and commissioned Schwarzkopf to build the Revolution for SFMM.
Vekoma, as you can read on their new website, is like Giovanola, a family owned steel manufacturer, who is in the business now for over a hundred years. They ventured in the amusement industry by building licensed rides. I think the first one was the American Loop by Chance, which they built for dutch and german travelling fairs.
They used the track design made by arrow under license as well to develop their own rides, after they were clever enough to see that the rollercoaster war of the seventies created a market for thrilling rides on a smaller scale.
First, I2K, Anton S. = Schwarkopf. I can never remember how exactly to spell it, so I just write "Anton S." to avoid butchering his name.
Second, yes, I do think most people know that B&M worked on rides with the Intamin name.
Third, thanks for the info on Vekoma.
By the way "Schwarzkopf" translates "Blackhead"
Coaster Mfrs. do not have a monopoly on the "inbred" scene. If you examine nearly every industry in the world, you will find the exact same dynamic in play: Somebody's top exec leaves to pursue own "destiny," etc...
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bukweet FL
"kanwegoagain?"