Yes, it is the Meteor. The diagram shows one of the three rotating platforms. You were seated on this ride and the diagram shows one of the seats. When the ride began the three circular platforms rotated, first giving you a ride similar to that of the Scrambler (though it was nothing like it in appearance). The major difference is that the Meteor tilted up at an angle, similar to, but not as steep as the Round-Up. I remember The Meteor at Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition in the early 1960s. Can’t find a photo of this ride anywhere.
Jim Bower, if you call me with a physical address, I’ll mail you a copy of Meteor brochure from 1960’s. 509-990-2968 Pacific Time. Meteor at PNE probably Bob Bollinger’s (Oaks Park), serial# 700, 1st one built of 24 Meteors(1961-1966) Prettiest one was at 1962 Seattle World’s Fair with fiberglass “leaves” on curved light fixtures and custom fence as a showpiece for visiting ride buyers.
When I was on Reithoffer Shows in the 70’s, we had a Meteor and a Round Up. Later on they took delivery on a Super Round Up. Call Reithoffer. You can bet they have pictures.
Do you have any details of the electric brack mechanisms on a Hrubetz Round-up we are rebuilding one and the bracks internals have completly rusted away. Paul Beldom. Hunstanton, England. UK
Iv,e never ridden a Meteor ride that was or that might still be manufactured by Hrubetz ride company, but I still have dreams to someday see one again and ride it, and if their are any Meteor ride models operating in the United States in good condition.
Amusements of America had a Meteor back in 1964. It was a very smooth ride, I can still remember the sound it made. I don’t belive the ride was very popular, as I never saw it with any of their shows after that.
If you do a Google images search for 1962 Gayway (amusement area of the Seattle World’s Fair), you will find several images of a postcard that features the Meteor all lit-up at night. I have this postcard in my collection. Never saw a Meteor in person. There is brief footage of the ride in the Elvis film “It Happened at the World’s Fair”. Reminds me of a larger Tempest with only 3 platforms instead of 4.
I rode the Meteor at the Seattle World’s fair. It was very pretty ride. Later a traveling carnival came through Sunnyvale Ca. sometime in the mid 60’s and they had one. I know that Butler Amusements did lots of carnivals in our area so it may have been theirs.
If you Google or You tube video of the Seattle worlds fair there are some brief shots of it as well. Just be patient while viewing as some of the material is a bit long.
There was also one at San Francisco’s Playland at the Beach shortly before they closed. I bought a ticket and rode it but it did not lift off and tilt up.
Thought I would add, that we were on Bernard Shows before Conklin bought it. At the time, the Trebant was “the” ride, but we used to outgross them every week.
I saw one at the manufacturing plant in Salem, Oregon in about 1972 when I was in junior high school. It was on the back lot of the manufacturing facility, and non-operational. Hrubetz and his former employer, Jack Eyerly, inspired me to earn my electrical engineering degree.
I remember the one at Oaks Park very well. It was there when Funtastic Shows was still based at Oaks and lent them a ride every now and then. Very visually attractive; though the operators always complained about the brakes.
Back in the 70’s I setup and ran a Meteor ride at the Santa Clara County Fair. It belonged to Lloyd Hilligos of Redwood City,CA also known as Foley and Burke Fun Fair Shows. This was also the last spot played by this show as all of their equipment was seized and Foley and Burke fell into the history books. I know a lot of their equipment was parked in a lot next to the fairgrounds for a while. I wonder what happened to that Meteor.
I worked a 64 meteor on the old W.G.Wade shows
back in 70, I loved this piece of equiptment, It
was one of my favorites.
It was one of the best rides of the day
The Meteor was the first “scary” ride I rode on as a kid, around 1970 at a carnival in the parking lot of the Weberstown Mall in Stockton, CA. I’ve always questioned my memory of the name and ride, as I’ve never seen one since, but turns out I was right all along. I’d love to see a photo or, better yet, a video of one of these in operation. I still like “scary” rides…even at 50!
I remember riding the Meteor as a kid in the 80’s. They were very popular in the carnival circuit in Puerto Rico into the 90’s. I think there still maybe one floating around to this day. It would be nice to ride it again. It was one of my first thrill rides!
Wade Shows at one time had three Hrubetz Meteor rides. Frank Zaitshik told me once that he sold one, kept one, and he believed the third was a parts only piece that ended up being scrapped. He bought the show from Glenn Wade in 1980, and Glenn and Red Wood and Jim Elliott started Elliott Amusement Company right after that, 1981, I believe, and they carried a Meteor, most likely the second Wade ride. Wade had a Meteor at least through 1984, as I recall riding it at the Michigan State Fair, it had a ‘Star Wars’ theme painted on the panels. No perimeter lights on any of the satellites, just the lights in the center. The two Wade moved were painted red/white/blue. One had blue side panels on the satellites, the other had white. My second favorite ride of all time right behind the Chance/Allan Herschell Sky Wheel.
J Jones–Drews Meteor was sold years ago. It belongs to PBJ Happee Daze shows out of West Memphis, Arkansas. They still have it, and use it a couple of times a year from what I have been told. It is the last and only Meteor on the road in the United States.
This is not a patent of a round-up. It is the Hrubetz Meteor.
Mark Blumhagen - August 17th, 2009 at 2:22 pm e
Yes, it is the Meteor. The diagram shows one of the three rotating platforms. You were seated on this ride and the diagram shows one of the seats. When the ride began the three circular platforms rotated, first giving you a ride similar to that of the Scrambler (though it was nothing like it in appearance). The major difference is that the Meteor tilted up at an angle, similar to, but not as steep as the Round-Up. I remember The Meteor at Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition in the early 1960s. Can’t find a photo of this ride anywhere.
Jim Bower - September 18th, 2009 at 5:10 am e
Jim Bower, if you call me with a physical address, I’ll mail you a copy of Meteor brochure from 1960’s. 509-990-2968 Pacific Time. Meteor at PNE probably Bob Bollinger’s (Oaks Park), serial# 700, 1st one built of 24 Meteors(1961-1966) Prettiest one was at 1962 Seattle World’s Fair with fiberglass “leaves” on curved light fixtures and custom fence as a showpiece for visiting ride buyers.
Mark Blumhagen - October 17th, 2009 at 1:55 pm e
When I was on Reithoffer Shows in the 70’s, we had a Meteor and a Round Up. Later on they took delivery on a Super Round Up. Call Reithoffer. You can bet they have pictures.
Mike Campi - November 30th, 2009 at 11:29 am e
Do you have any details of the electric brack mechanisms on a Hrubetz Round-up we are rebuilding one and the bracks internals have completly rusted away. Paul Beldom. Hunstanton, England. UK
Paul Beldom - February 12th, 2010 at 7:08 am e
Iv,e never ridden a Meteor ride that was or that might still be manufactured by Hrubetz ride company, but I still have dreams to someday see one again and ride it, and if their are any Meteor ride models operating in the United States in good condition.
Carlos Saltz - March 21st, 2010 at 7:29 am e
Amusements of America had a Meteor back in 1964. It was a very smooth ride, I can still remember the sound it made. I don’t belive the ride was very popular, as I never saw it with any of their shows after that.
Tony Duda - April 1st, 2010 at 2:54 am e
If you do a Google images search for 1962 Gayway (amusement area of the Seattle World’s Fair), you will find several images of a postcard that features the Meteor all lit-up at night. I have this postcard in my collection. Never saw a Meteor in person. There is brief footage of the ride in the Elvis film “It Happened at the World’s Fair”. Reminds me of a larger Tempest with only 3 platforms instead of 4.
Mark Hackett - April 7th, 2010 at 11:19 am e
I rode the Meteor at the Seattle World’s fair. It was very pretty ride. Later a traveling carnival came through Sunnyvale Ca. sometime in the mid 60’s and they had one. I know that Butler Amusements did lots of carnivals in our area so it may have been theirs. If you Google or You tube video of the Seattle worlds fair there are some brief shots of it as well. Just be patient while viewing as some of the material is a bit long.
Dan Eberhardt - October 13th, 2010 at 6:50 am e
There was also one at San Francisco’s Playland at the Beach shortly before they closed. I bought a ticket and rode it but it did not lift off and tilt up.
Dan Eberhardt - October 13th, 2010 at 6:51 am e
My dad had one in the 70’s. We played all over Ontario with it.
Jacquie Cleaver - February 14th, 2011 at 2:25 am e
Thought I would add, that we were on Bernard Shows before Conklin bought it. At the time, the Trebant was “the” ride, but we used to outgross them every week.
Jacquie Cleaver - February 14th, 2011 at 2:50 am e
I saw one at the manufacturing plant in Salem, Oregon in about 1972 when I was in junior high school. It was on the back lot of the manufacturing facility, and non-operational. Hrubetz and his former employer, Jack Eyerly, inspired me to earn my electrical engineering degree.
Kevin Haddock - March 13th, 2011 at 9:22 am e
I remember the one at Oaks Park very well. It was there when Funtastic Shows was still based at Oaks and lent them a ride every now and then. Very visually attractive; though the operators always complained about the brakes.
Todd Keranen - May 19th, 2011 at 1:10 pm e
Back in the 70’s I setup and ran a Meteor ride at the Santa Clara County Fair. It belonged to Lloyd Hilligos of Redwood City,CA also known as Foley and Burke Fun Fair Shows. This was also the last spot played by this show as all of their equipment was seized and Foley and Burke fell into the history books. I know a lot of their equipment was parked in a lot next to the fairgrounds for a while. I wonder what happened to that Meteor.
Dan Gamble - July 4th, 2011 at 5:47 pm e
I worked a 64 meteor on the old W.G.Wade shows back in 70, I loved this piece of equiptment, It was one of my favorites. It was one of the best rides of the day
kevin chevalier - August 29th, 2011 at 3:53 pm e
The Meteor was the first “scary” ride I rode on as a kid, around 1970 at a carnival in the parking lot of the Weberstown Mall in Stockton, CA. I’ve always questioned my memory of the name and ride, as I’ve never seen one since, but turns out I was right all along. I’d love to see a photo or, better yet, a video of one of these in operation. I still like “scary” rides…even at 50!
Sean Davis - September 30th, 2011 at 4:34 am e
I found a cool video of this ride on youtube, operating in a Denmark amusement park. Link is here or copy and paste to your browser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoMF-TSlAHY
Sean Davis - September 30th, 2011 at 5:22 am e
Um hi just wanted to say Frank Hrubetz is like my grandpa’s uncle or something. LOL! :)
Sydney - October 14th, 2011 at 4:06 am e
I remember riding the Meteor as a kid in the 80’s. They were very popular in the carnival circuit in Puerto Rico into the 90’s. I think there still maybe one floating around to this day. It would be nice to ride it again. It was one of my first thrill rides!
Angel Garcia - December 30th, 2011 at 5:29 am e
“”" I found a cool video of this ride on youtube, operating in a Denmark amusement park. Link is here or copy and paste to your browser.”"”
That is awesome. I remember them being painted all red and white which had a classy look to it. Thanks for finding that.
Dan Eberhardt - December 30th, 2011 at 8:57 am e
I believe Jimmy Drew still has his family’s Meteor, from the Great James H Drew Exposition
J Jones - January 14th, 2012 at 10:09 pm e
Wade Shows at one time had three Hrubetz Meteor rides. Frank Zaitshik told me once that he sold one, kept one, and he believed the third was a parts only piece that ended up being scrapped. He bought the show from Glenn Wade in 1980, and Glenn and Red Wood and Jim Elliott started Elliott Amusement Company right after that, 1981, I believe, and they carried a Meteor, most likely the second Wade ride. Wade had a Meteor at least through 1984, as I recall riding it at the Michigan State Fair, it had a ‘Star Wars’ theme painted on the panels. No perimeter lights on any of the satellites, just the lights in the center. The two Wade moved were painted red/white/blue. One had blue side panels on the satellites, the other had white. My second favorite ride of all time right behind the Chance/Allan Herschell Sky Wheel.
skywheelrider - January 20th, 2012 at 1:13 pm e
J Jones–Drews Meteor was sold years ago. It belongs to PBJ Happee Daze shows out of West Memphis, Arkansas. They still have it, and use it a couple of times a year from what I have been told. It is the last and only Meteor on the road in the United States.
skywheelrider - January 20th, 2012 at 1:14 pm e