It's interesting when they started connecting the spine on the inside of the rails, compared to the outside. Looks like the first use of this was on their wild mouse, and they also used it on their inverts. I wonder why they resisted using this design on the larger coasters for so long, the new track is much smoother and seems like it would need less steel, and this is the style track they used in all the redemption era designs. Trimper's mentioned though, that boomerang might have been my first coaster and possibly the one I've ridden the most, and it was the closest coaster to my house lol
I think they just got the design from Arrow and ran with it until they developed their own style much later down the line. The fact that the boomerang and SLC sold so well contributed it to it as well I’m sure. They also started at the infancy of large steel coasters where besides Schwarzkopf most manufacturers used the inside running rails
1:49 It was actually the other way around, the CEO of Vekoma contacted Arrow after seeing one of their coasters in a movie on tv. 7:40 All early Boomerang models use the same trains which were made by Arrow. The Swinging Turns was also licensed from Arrow (as opposed to copied).
Finally, Maufacturer History Season 2 is out! And again one of the best and most interesting manufacturer of all time! Already hyped for the following parts!
The original trains used by Vekoma on the MK-1200 track didn't just look like the Arrow trains - they actually were Arrow trains. This was part of the initial agreement between Arrow and Vekoma, in that Vekoma would manufacture the track, but some parts like the trains would be supplied by Arrow. In fact, the original trains on Heide Park's Big Loop had well visible signs attached to the chassis indicating what was then Arrow-Huss being their manufacturer. Of course you won't be able to see that now as these trains are no longer in operation. The first Corkscrew with Bayerncurve only appeared at a single fair - despite being built as a transportable ride, the very bulky MK-1200 track and scaffolding-like support structure was simply way inferior in practicality to other transportable coaster designs at that time, especially the Schwarzkopf cone plug system. It just took way too long to set up and tear down, and the bulky track needed way too many trailers to get it from A to B. Not saying they were bad coasters by any means, in fact I loved riding Holiday Park's Superwirbel, but they were just terrible as transportable rides.
Im about seven minutes in, but I have noted a few things: Vekoma is short for Veld Köning Maschinenfabrik (Veld Köning's Machine Shop). The MK-1200 refers to the track gauge in millimeters. Finally, Vekoma called the cobra roll a "boomerang" element, which is where the coaster model comes from.
A few more notes: Sea Serpent was the prototype Boomerang. Kamikaze was originally planned to fit into the plot of land now occupied by Great Nor'Easter.
You almost got it right - the "ko" part of the name stands for "koning", which is the correct form of the Dutch word for king (or König in German). Also the "machine shop" part is spelled slightly differently in Dutch - but since I don't speak Dutch, I would have to look it up as well. 😉 The "Veld" part by the way comes from the last name of the founder Hendrik op het Veld.
Great series! Thanks!
It's interesting when they started connecting the spine on the inside of the rails, compared to the outside. Looks like the first use of this was on their wild mouse, and they also used it on their inverts. I wonder why they resisted using this design on the larger coasters for so long, the new track is much smoother and seems like it would need less steel, and this is the style track they used in all the redemption era designs. Trimper's mentioned though, that boomerang might have been my first coaster and possibly the one I've ridden the most, and it was the closest coaster to my house lol
I think they just got the design from Arrow and ran with it until they developed their own style much later down the line. The fact that the boomerang and SLC sold so well contributed it to it as well I’m sure. They also started at the infancy of large steel coasters where besides Schwarzkopf most manufacturers used the inside running rails
1:49 It was actually the other way around, the CEO of Vekoma contacted Arrow after seeing one of their coasters in a movie on tv.
7:40 All early Boomerang models use the same trains which were made by Arrow. The Swinging Turns was also licensed from Arrow (as opposed to copied).
Finally, Maufacturer History Season 2 is out! And again one of the best and most interesting manufacturer of all time! Already hyped for the following parts!
That´s a great feature with lot´s of great footage! Very well sourced and researched!
Looking forward to the upcoming part(s).
Can not wait for the next part!!
This is an amazing video! I cant wait for part 2!!
Hell yeah! Let’s go again, can’t wait for the full series!
The original trains used by Vekoma on the MK-1200 track didn't just look like the Arrow trains - they actually were Arrow trains. This was part of the initial agreement between Arrow and Vekoma, in that Vekoma would manufacture the track, but some parts like the trains would be supplied by Arrow.
In fact, the original trains on Heide Park's Big Loop had well visible signs attached to the chassis indicating what was then Arrow-Huss being their manufacturer. Of course you won't be able to see that now as these trains are no longer in operation.
The first Corkscrew with Bayerncurve only appeared at a single fair - despite being built as a transportable ride, the very bulky MK-1200 track and scaffolding-like support structure was simply way inferior in practicality to other transportable coaster designs at that time, especially the Schwarzkopf cone plug system. It just took way too long to set up and tear down, and the bulky track needed way too many trailers to get it from A to B. Not saying they were bad coasters by any means, in fact I loved riding Holiday Park's Superwirbel, but they were just terrible as transportable rides.
Great Documentary!!
Super Wirbel was my very first coaster in 1986... Scared me to death at age 13!
Im about seven minutes in, but I have noted a few things:
Vekoma is short for Veld Köning Maschinenfabrik (Veld Köning's Machine Shop).
The MK-1200 refers to the track gauge in millimeters.
Finally, Vekoma called the cobra roll a "boomerang" element, which is where the coaster model comes from.
A few more notes: Sea Serpent was the prototype Boomerang. Kamikaze was originally planned to fit into the plot of land now occupied by Great Nor'Easter.
You almost got it right - the "ko" part of the name stands for "koning", which is the correct form of the Dutch word for king (or König in German). Also the "machine shop" part is spelled slightly differently in Dutch - but since I don't speak Dutch, I would have to look it up as well. 😉 The "Veld" part by the way comes from the last name of the founder Hendrik op het Veld.
@@Colaholiker Thanks for the correction! Always good to learn something new.
Veld Koning Machinefabriek (machine factory)
You aspect ratio in this video is off. Please fix this!
I know I realized after ☹️ I’ll fix it for part 2 and when it’s all together!
I thought vekoma has been around the 1920s
Yes, as manufacturer of agricultural / farm equipment and steel constructions for mining.