Skip to main content

Traver Engineering Company (1906 - 1933)

 Organisation

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:

Blueprints for Ride Structures and Platforms, c1911 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.32
Scope and Contents

Blueprints for ride structures and platforms, including the Whirlwind Racer, the Rocket and Revolving Speedway and cars, Gorleston Ghost Train, No.1 Swoop and Noah’s Ark.

Dates: c1911 - 1939

Blueprints of Whirlewind and Speedway Design and Specification, 1928 - 1935

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.31
Scope and Contents

Blueprints containing drawings and specifications for the design of different parts of a Whirlwind Racer and a Rocket Speedway.

Dates: 1928 - 1935

Hand Rail Posts Blueprint, 25 July 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xvi)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing hand rail posts with special bolts for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 25 July 1928

Jackstand Blueprint, 29 January 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(ii)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing jackstands type G for American Whirlwind Racer by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A. with dimensions table.

Dates: 29 January 1929

Jackstand Blueprint, 19 May 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(ix)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing type D jacktands or ledgers for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 19 May 1928

Jackstand Blueprint, 3 May 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(x)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing type B jacktands or ledgers for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 3 May 1928

Jackstand Blueprint, 9 May 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xi)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing type A jacktands low ledgers for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 9 May 1928

Jackstand Blueprint, 1 May 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xii)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing type C jacktands or ledgers for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 1 May 1928

Jackstand Blueprint, 10 January 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xx)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing type D jackstands for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 10 January 1929

Jackstand Blueprint, 23 May 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xxii)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing typy F jackstands for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 23 May 1928

Orton and Spooner Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0070
Scope and Contents

This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.

Dates: c1870 - 1969

Paltform Brackets, Hand Rail and Storage Tank Blueprint, 25 July 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xvii)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing hand rail, platform brackets and storage tank for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 25 July 1928

Plans, c1916 - 1939

 Series
Reference code: 178M15
Scope and Contents

Blueprints of electric parts for fairground rides supplied by Mather & Platt Ltd and Hackett & Co., Electrical Engineers to Orton and Spooner.

Dates: c1916 - 1939

Ramp Bracing Blueprint, 26 May 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(viii)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing the ramp bracing for a Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 26 May 1928

Ramp for Loading Shed Blueprint, 7 July 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xix)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing ramp for loading shed for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 7 July 1928

Ramp Hand Rail Blueprint, 24 July 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(vii)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing the ramp hand rail of a Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 24 July 1928

Ramp Loading Shed Blueprint, c1928 - 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(vi)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing the ramp loading shed for platforms of a Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: c1928 - 1929

Ramp Loading Shed Blueprint, 13 July 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xiii)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing ramp loading shed for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 13 July 1928

Ramp Loading Shed Blueprint, c1928 - 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xxi)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing loading shed ramp for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: c1928 - 1929

Struts and Bracing Blueprint, 18 March 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.31(xiv)
Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing longitudinal struts and bracing for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.

Dates: 18 March 1929