Traver Engineering Company (1906 - 1933)
Dates
- Existence: 1906 - 1933
- Usage: 1919 - 1933
- Usage: 1906 - 1919
Biography
Traver Engineering Company was a fairground ride building company founded by Harry Guy Traver in 1906 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, USA. Harry Traver was an engineer born in Gardner, Illinois on 25 November 1877.
In 1899, he took an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering with General Electric Co. after attending the 1898 Omaha Exposition. Upon finishing his apprenticeship, Traver took a job with Denver Tramway Co. and later was employed by Harris Safety Co. in New York City. In 1906, he filed a patent request with the U.S. Patent Office for an amusement park circle swing and founded Traver Circle Swing Co., in Broadway, New York City. In 1919 he moved the company to Pennsylvania and renamed it Traver Engineering Company. By 1924 Travers was the largest fairground manufacturer in the world.
Traver’s rollercoaster become popular for their unique twisted layouts and thrilling, swooped turns. Additionally, Travers was the first to build rollercoasters using steel structures rather than wood.
The Great Depression of the 1930s had a huge impact on the company, which closed in 1933. Harry Traver died in New Rochelle, New York on 27 September 1961.
Found in 29 Collections and/or Records:
Struts and Bracing Blueprint, 29 May 1928
Blueprint showing longitudinal struts and bracing for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.
Tie Rods Blueprint, 1 June 1928
Blueprint showing tie rods for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.
Whirldwind Racer Blueprint, 1 June 1928
Centre ring angles by Travers Engineering Co, Beaver Falls.
Whirldwind Racer Blueprint, c1920 - 1929
Car arches and loading shed details by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls.
Whirldwind Racer Blueprint, c1920 - 1929
Pavillion erection diagram for loading station by Traver Engineering Co., Beaver Falls showing front and rear elevations and section through roof.
Whirldwind Racer Blueprint, 31 May 1928
Pavillion details by Traver Engineering Co., Beaver Falls.
Whirldwind Racer Blueprint, 1928
Profile and bracing diagram by Traver Engineering Co., Beaver Falls.
Whirldwind Racer Blueprint, 23 October 1928
General plan and diagram showing cross section in station and typical section through track and ramps by Traver Engineering Co., Beaver Falls. Scale 3/16".
Whirldwind Racer Unloading Crane Blueprint, 8 October 1928
Trolley beam and columns for unloading crane for unloading whirldwind cars from track by Travers Engineering Co, Beaver Falls.