Mechanical Memories Magazine

Issue: 2014-September - Issue 86

Currently we have dismantled and examined most of the haulage equipment to
establish firstly how the system worked and then what can be salvaged and reused.
We have also built two timber bogies based on various photographs, drawings and
some intuition to again determine how they worked and identify the important
dimensional interfaces between the vehicle and the track.
We have been analysing the performance of the vehicles on the track using our
standard data as we would normally but then comparing our findings with timed film
evidence of the actual ride to try to trim our assumptions to match the actual
conditions of this particular ride.
This is taking shape and we can now see where the problem areas are likely to be."
PROJECT UP-DATE
And back in Margate, the Scenic Railway timber structure contracts are now out to
tender with the council anticipating a selection by early August and expressions of
interest to restore the Corbierre Wheel and Junior Whip have now been received by
the council who are in the process of evaluating the restoration method. The main
works contract was put out to tender at the beginning of June and the park operator
opportunity is out to tender with a deadline for responses by 25 July - visit Thanet
District Council website for details.
Nick Laister
Nick Laister (Chairman, The Dreamland Trust)
Jan Leandro (Heritage and Engagement Officer, The Dreamland Trust)
www .dreamlandmargate.com
www.savedreamland.co.uk
Editor's Note: I'm afraid this news is a little out of date, as it was intended to be
published back in July. Not a great deal has happened since, except that work has now
commenced on site, which of course is a major milestone. I'm sure Nick will have
plenty to report next month.
Page 7
Dodgems
by Kay Townsend
Did you know ... the dodgems have been with us for over 80 years? But where
did they come from? Who made them? What makes them stop and what
makes them go?
With no indicating, no gear change, you can just let yourself go!
Where the law has no jurisdiction, it is one of the few rides that you are in
control of and that's what you love.
Would you like to know the untold stories from the fairground?
With details of manufacture from the very men who put them together, here is
the story of the Dodgems.
You have all bumped your way around the dodgem track, now this book
reveals what was happening behind the laughter. So hold on tight as this book
takes you on a trip down memory lane.
Chapters:
America (the beginning)
"Look Out", Here Comes Europe
How they are powered
British Manufacturing
Orton & Spooner
Lakin
Supercar
Rytecraft
Lang Wheels
Individual family stories
Dodgem transport
Don't be confused with speedways
Stories from the top
Photo gallery
ISBN Number: 9780955359576
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 150
Publication Date: 2014
Publisher: K Townsend
Page 8

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