Out of Production Amusement Rides

[Ken Martin]

I am trying to assist an owner in obtaining information on a King Swinger.  The owner is aware of one operating in Virginia.  Since we do not maintain a state database of amusement rides that operate in Virginia, I told him that I would inquire of this group.

Here is a link to a video of the ride in question.

Any help would be appreciated as this person needs to get some part information for his ride.

[Gary M Wallace]

I see that you state that the ride is out of production. Is the company that manufactured the ride still in business? I’m sure that you have but, have you searched the internet? I don’t know what part you are talking about or if he just needs information on the part or the actual part. If he needs a part have you checked into having it fabricated by someone who can certify it? I would need more information before I could even begin to try to help. If the owner is aware of one operating in Virginia, where or from who did he obtain this information and where is it being operated?

Gary M. Wallace
Code Compliance Investigator II, gary.wallace@fairfaxcounty.gov

[Ken Martin]

Gary, thank you for your response.  King rides went out of business long before the Internet and me getting into the inspection business in 1993 here in Virginia.  The gentleman who is asking has been tracking down King rides, particularly the King Swinger ride.  He is trying to restore the one he owns and he is looking for parts.  The King manual has been a help, however, it does not have the measurements, accurate diagrams or other needed information to fabricate parts from.

The last working ride the gentleman was able to find had been sold to someone in Virginia.  As for King manuals, they are no more than a one-page piece of paper.

I posted here because when the owner realized there was no central database kept in the Commonwealth and I told him there were about 130 jurisdictions he would have to contact, he lost all the hope he had.

FYI, the last King rides I knew of in the Commonwealth were own by Mr. Dave Fleet in Petersburg, VA.  I believe he sat on the VADR Technical Advisory Committee back in the 1980s.  I did check with DHCD, so time ago.  They threw away all their manuals when they moved from N 2nd Street to downtown.

I have attached a sample manual from King for your reference.

Ken Martin

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[Gary M Wallace]

Mr. Martin,

Have you tried tracking down Mr. Dave Fleet? To see if he still owns ride, if not who he sold it to? Maybe try contacting  the code official in Petersburg and see if they know if the ride is still in operation or in their jurisdiction. Have you tried advertising on social media to see if anyone else has one of these rides and where they are located.

In order to get diagrams and measurements you would almost have to find the shop drawings, I don’t know of any owners manual or set up manual that would include this information, from the ones that I have seen while performing Amusement Device inspections. He is almost going to have to find someone that has one of these rides in working order that is willing to let him and the fabricator come to look at. The only other thing would be if by some stroke of luck he found someone somewhere through the internet that by some miracle was in possession of the shop drawings. I think that there would be a better chance of finding someone in possession of one of these rides.

Is there any way that the owner could somehow find out who in the state that the ride was sold to? Maybe contact the seller and tell them his predicament and what he is trying to accomplish. They may be willing to help. Sorry that I can’t be more help but, if there is anything else that I can do let me know.

Gary M. Wallace
Code Compliance Investigator II, gary.wallace@fairfaxcounty.gov

[Gary M Wallace]

Maybe try to contact the person that posted this on Yotube or the person that posted the other video that you posted.

Gary M. Wallace
Code Compliance Investigator II, gary.wallace@fairfaxcounty.gov

[Ken Martin]

You have stated pretty much everything we/I have tried.  Mr. Fleet passed about 10 years ago.

In regards to shop drawings, ASTM requires them for all amusement rides in operation.  I really appreciate your help and just hoping someone else will see this message who can possibly assist.

Thank you.

[Richard Grace]

Hi Ken,

The additional information you provided was helpful for me to understand what you were looking for. I don’t know if this will be helpful, but when I started amusement device inspections sometime in early 2000 ish, I was provided with a few CD’s with a huge number of manufacturer’s documentation (this would have been through NAARSO). I don’t remember what I did with those CDs, but I cannot find them now. It’s possible that someone else here in VA (or even NAARSO) actually kept those same CDs and can review them to see if they contain King ride information. Wishin’ I’d kept those CDs now 🙂

Richard

[Ken Martin]

Richard,

In those CD’s you refer to are only 2 manuals for King rides.  DHCD did have some paper manuals.  However, when they made the move from N 2nd Street to downtown they were thrown out according to DHCD staff.

Without a proper manual, the owner will have to hire an engineer according to ASTM Standards.  The good thing for us is it won’t be in Virginia anytime soon.  On to the next mission.

 

Ken Martin

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