Gravity Switch Back Railway (Roller Coaster) | 1880s | La Marcus A. Thompson

Skilled carpenter LaMarcus A Thompson initially designed a device to manufacture seamless hosiery. Known as the Father of the American Roller Coaster, he accumulated almost 30 roller coaster technology patents culminating in the 1885 patent gravity switch-back railway. The patent was based on the earlier design of John G Taylor’s inclined railway. The six-miles-per-hour gravity pleasure switch-back railway opened on Coney Island in 1884, costing five cents. The roller coaster afforded riders a scenic view of the surrounding landscape and is the original blueprint for many models today.  US Patent Number: 332,762 Invention: Gravity Switch Back Railway Inventor: La Marcus A. Thompson Year: 1885 Material: Ink on Japanese museum-quality archival paper. Thickness of paper: 10.3 mil (0.26 mm). Weight of paper: 5.57 oz/yd² (189 g/m²) All Hatton® Press Originals measure 24"(W) x 36"(H) Safely packaged for shipping Comes with our natural wood grain frame, including pre-attached sawtooth hanger