5 Responses to “An Alan Herschell Looper still operating at Knobels, USA”
Wow, that think looks ancient but still in good nik. I noticed the cars are one seat wide, was this a variation from the 2 seat wide ones or is this the way they were first made?
You’re thinking of a Rok n rol which is a modern attempt to recreate this awesome ride that was once quite common in American amusement parks.
On the Looper, the rider controls how often, and fast, they flip over. 2 riders per car face each other and control the rolling over with a foot pedal.
The only one I know of in the US is the one pictured here- at Knoebels Grove in PA. They maintain it very well- better than any I remember from my youth when these rides were common.
I do know that the older versions had the pedal for the riders to choose when they wanted to roll the car. Theres a Rok N Roll that travels around Australia and it is a later model with the 4 person tubs and no pedal. That’s the one I was comparing it too.
Is there another version of this? I remember 20-30 years ago, we had a carnival company with a lot of older rides. They had a ride like this–but it wasn’t on a platform, riders boarded from the ground. The sides of the seats (where the buckles are) were so worn on some of the tubs that they couldn’t anchor the buckles; the belts had to be fastened behind the seat by the operator.
Wow, that think looks ancient but still in good nik. I noticed the cars are one seat wide, was this a variation from the 2 seat wide ones or is this the way they were first made?
Adam - May 9th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Adam-
You’re thinking of a Rok n rol which is a modern attempt to recreate this awesome ride that was once quite common in American amusement parks.
On the Looper, the rider controls how often, and fast, they flip over. 2 riders per car face each other and control the rolling over with a foot pedal.
The only one I know of in the US is the one pictured here- at Knoebels Grove in PA. They maintain it very well- better than any I remember from my youth when these rides were common.
Bill - May 9th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I do know that the older versions had the pedal for the riders to choose when they wanted to roll the car. Theres a Rok N Roll that travels around Australia and it is a later model with the 4 person tubs and no pedal. That’s the one I was comparing it too.
Thanks for the info anyway
Adam - May 11th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
chance purchased alan herschall a long time ago, so mny of the old herscall designs are markeded by
chance ie the skywheel, zipper, carousel sct
kenneth - October 26th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Is there another version of this? I remember 20-30 years ago, we had a carnival company with a lot of older rides. They had a ride like this–but it wasn’t on a platform, riders boarded from the ground. The sides of the seats (where the buckles are) were so worn on some of the tubs that they couldn’t anchor the buckles; the belts had to be fastened behind the seat by the operator.
Wendy - August 10th, 2022 at 3:43 am