Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters

The Philadelphia Toboggan Company was incorporated on January 20, 1904.Pennsylvania Department of State, "[https://www.corporations.pa.gov/Search/CorpSearch Philadelphia Toboggan Company]"; accessed 2017.08.01.

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 as president in 1976, the company stopped designing roller coasters but continued to work on coaster projects until 1979 when it exited the coaster-construction industry permanently.Rutherford, Scott. The American Roller Coaster, MBI Publishing, 2000, p. 12

The company manufactured carousels known for their elaborate carvings and decorations. It expanded with the acquisition of the inventory of the Dentzel Carousel Company in 1927.[http://dentzel.weebly.com Dentzel Carousel Company]; accessed 2022.11.12. Lead carvers included Daniel Carl Muller, Leo Zoller, John Zalar, and Frank Caretta.{{cite web|url=http://www.carousels.com/holyoke.php|title=Holyoke Carousel|first=Barbara|last=McDevitt|publisher=carousels.com|access-date=August 18, 2018}} Examples of the company's carousels (manufactured 1904–1934) exist throughout the United States.{{citation needed|date = November 2022}}

The Philadelphia Toboggan Company built the Rollo Coaster at Idlewild Park in 1938, and the carousel for the same amusement park in 1931. The company manufactured Skee Ball games from 1946 to 1977.{{cite book | last1=Cooper | first1=Thaddeus O. | last2=Kreitman | first2=Kevin B. | title=Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball |page=366| publisher=NoMoreBoxes LLC | date=2016 | isbn=9780998389707}} In 1926, PTC was granted a trademark on a new name, Philtobco.{{citation needed|date = August 2017}}

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.{{cite news |last=Rutherford |first=Scott |title=PTC built one Flying Turns at Rocky Point; Hershey's ride was designed, but never built |newspaper=Amusement Today |year=2004 |volume=8 |issue=2 |page=23 }} 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 stayed 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.

Schmeck engineered a second Flying Turns for Hershey Park in August 1941. Due to the entry of the United States into 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 Comet's lift hill is located.{{cite book|last=Jenkins Jr.|first=Torrence|title=Herbert P. Schmeck: The Forgotten Legacy|year=2006|publisher=Knepper Press|pages=91–93}} Though Bartlett and Miller went on to build several more Flying Turns-type coasters, PTC never proposed another.

On November 27, 1991, Tom Rebbie and Bill Dauphinee purchased the Philadelphia Toboggan Company from Sam High (1934–2011), and incorporated a new company, Philadelphia Toboggan Coaster, shortly thereafter.Pennsylvania Department of State, "[https://www.corporations.pa.gov/Search/CorpSearch Philadelphia Toboggan Coaster, Inc.]"; accessed 2017.08.01. Rebbie was appointed president. In 2007 he bought out Dauphinee to become the sole owner, and changed the company's name to Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. (PTCI). The company continues to manufacture roller coaster trains, queue gates and fin brakes.Seifert, Jeffrey. "This Month in History," Amusement Today, Volume 15, Issue 8.2, p. 3

{{See also|:Category:Roller coasters manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters}}

As of 2019, Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters has built 127 roller coasters around the world.[https://rcdb.com/6841.htm Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters - rcdb.com]

{{See also|:Category:Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters carousels}}

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

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ochh.net/funni-catalogs.html|title=Funni-Frite Industries}}

• Laffing Sal - automated funhouse character/amusement device

• Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel Number 15, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.{{NRISref|2009a}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters}}

• [http://www.philadelphiatoboggancoastersinc.com/ Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc.]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060620091426/http://coasterclub.org/library/ptc/index.php European Coaster Club PTC Database]
• [http://carouselptc30.customer.netspace.net.au/index.html PTC Carousel 30 in Australia Homepages ]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070425101845/http://history.amusement-parks.com/famcaro.htm PTC Carousel 87 at Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach SC]

{{Amusement rides}}

{{Roller coaster manufacturers}}

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Category:Amusement ride manufacturers

Category:Companies based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1904

Category:Roller coaster manufacturers

Category:1904 establishments in Pennsylvania