![]() The trend in the late 70s was for US imported novelty rides such as Rock-o-planes, whilst scores of gently revolving Lifting Paratroopers and Trabants were satisfying what many people thought were the thrill capacities of the majority of the fairground public. Woolls worked for two years on the first production model, with an intention to use emerging technologies to shape something wholly new rather than just becoming part of the slowly evolving movement to incorporate new techniques in hydraulic engineering into existing ride types. The suggestion that he create his own project set the mind working of the former showman who had plenty of experience in heavy industrial engineering, and the resulting prototype grabbed the attention of both showmen and the riding public across the world. The project had been instigated by a joke between Woolls and his brother-in-law Bob Nichols, who constantly pulled his leg about the amount of time Woolls spent repairing machinery. Former traveller Henry Smith invested in the blueprints and enthusiasm that had been advertised by Richard Woolls in the World’s Fair, and became the first owner of the Orbiter. In the late summer of 1976 a new ride appeared at Margate's Dreamland Amusement Park that was to change the shape of fairground technology. Evolved throughout the 1990s to include more inverted possibilities. 6 arms with 3 cars follow a Twist style rotating motion - the centre lifts and the arms pivot outwards. ![]() Summary: Ground-breaking UK invention showing the first innovative use of hydraulics. Manufacturer(s): Woolls, Norson Power, Thurston ![]()
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