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Pomalift - Telecar - Miner-Denver - Carlevaro & Savio


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#1 sheave

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Posted 21 March 2021 - 01:25 PM

--- Work in progress ---

I have started a small research project to find out more about the companies that A-Basin’s Larry Jump founded in the 1950s or used to work with. Especially regarding Miner-Denver there is a lot of vague or wrong information out there, which I would like to clarify. I will add to this posting as I go along and I do appreciate any comments or hints. The information is mainly based on the correspondence between the different persons that are archived in the library of Denver and other archives (e.g. newspapers). The research will cover the time between the incorporation of Pomalift (1954) until the last lift was sold by Miner-Denver and Pomalift merged with Heron Engineering.

Overview

Here is a short overview of what happened (updates may occur in the course of the research, but all information is based on business records and documents - no hearsay).

Larry Jump founded Pomalift, Inc. in 1954 after he needed more uphill capacity and had heard about Poma through a friend. The first lift, a T50, was ordered through Canada from Breco and Vulcan Iron & Engineering, Poma's licensees. Pomagalski himself supervised the installation at A-Basin. Pomalift became the first reseller of Poma equipment in the US.

Telecar, Inc. was started as a reseller for Carlevaro & Savio (C&S) on July 17, 1957 after Jump was looking for a supplier for gondola lifts. In 1959, he founded Lift Services, Inc. to handle the check-ups and repair work, and the sale of spare parts. All of these companies were wholly owned subsidiaries of Arapahoe Basin, Inc. They did tend to split the liability vulnerability and keep it away from A-Basin itself. Profits were generally somewhere between 125 to 130 %. The management believed that the fostering of new ski areas was a smart thing to do to raise the interest in skiing. Jump first used both Pomalift and Telecar to sell chairlifts, but later in the 1960s decided to use Pomalift for surface lifts only and Telecar for chairlifts and gondolas. One of his suppliers was the Miner Machine Co.

C&S first was a reseller for Pomalifts in Italy, until Pomaglaski, who was pushed by Jump, asked them to develop an affordable chairlift. "Several co-designed" lifts were sold, e.g. to Otsego Club, MI. Pomagaslski quickly understood the design and started developing his own chairlifts. He was afraid that C&S chairlifts could be more in Jump's favor, but Pomalift later focused on Poma chairlifts. C&S was likely trying to directly enter the US market in 1963 (the lift in question might have been the 1963 C&S Triple at Windham, NY). A conflict arose and Jump stopped the cooperation. Bill Alsup took over a separate franchise for the East.

Janek Kunczynski officially started working for Jump in March 1964 under the newly incorporated Lift Engineering Co. with offices in both California and Vermont, but was already involved in 1963. Around that time, Miner Machine started building chairlifts under the Miner-Denver brand and named them "Telecar-Miner Chair Lifts" or "Miner●Denver Chair Lift - Telecar System" or "Telecar (system Miner-Denver) chair lift". Pomalift was absorbed by Mountain Lifts Corporation in 1965 while Jump continued as a sales rep. Eventually Mountain Lifts merged with Heron Engineering and Poma Aerial Tramways, Inc. (East Coast rep for Poma) to become Heron Poma in 1970.

In April 1966, Larry Jump received at letter from the New York architect Alexander "Sandy" McIlvaine, the inventor of the "retractable foot-rest" (https://patents.goog...ent/US2662587A/). McIlvaine was confused about a letter he had received from "Miner●Denver, Inc." earlier. Edward D. Pierson, president of Miner●Denver, was asking him about a licencing agreement. Pierson told the archictect that they "have not sold footrests of any kind to users", but they "have manufactured footrests for Heron and Telecar". He further explained that "starting in 1966", "we will market our own lifts under Miner●Denver and direct contract with the user". Pierson agreed to "make suitable reports" and wanted to pay McIlvaine a royalty of $5 per unit. McIlvaine wrote Jump he "can't make out the relationship between you and Miner-Denver, Miner Engineering, etc.". Jump replied about a month later: "I don't wonder you are confused since we represent almost everybody in some manner or other."

He told McIlvaine that they "represented Pomagalski under the name 'Pomalift, Inc.' until 1963 for the sale of French made chairlifts.", but they "also sold chairlifts for Carlevaro & Savio as well". The relationship with Pomgalski was "as distributor" and with C&S "as selling agent most of the time.". In 1963, they started fabricating their chairlifts in Denver. They have been "manufactured by Miner-Denver (the new name for Miner Machine Co.).". This happened "until these last two months". They became "merely sales agents or representatives and not involved in the contracts.", but the lifts "are sold under the name Telecar System, which is a carry forward from the old Carlevaro & Savio days.".

On Sep 8, 1966, a settlement was made between Jump’s companies and Miner-Denver to terminate the cooperation. When he started Arapahoe East in 1971, the chairlift was delivered by Miner-Denver (likely the very last MD chairlift). Miner-Denver, Inc. had been acquired by Cutler-Hammer in 1968. A group of Miner-Denver engineers founded their own company "James C. Wright & Associates" in 1972 to service the MD lifts. Jump commissioned them on Oct 30, 1972 with the "fabrication and delivery of the chairlift bullwheel modification". This is one of the last documented activities with regard to Pomalift, Telecar and Miner-Denver.

Pomalifts always had a huge price advantage compared to other manufacturers, e.g. Constam, who first had a free run for the US market. While Constam's lifts were likely selling in the six-figures, a Pomalift was much more affordable. The lifts sold well into the late 1960s, even though more and more resorts started focusing on chairlifts (and price became less an issue as resorts started selling land for homes and condos). But Jump, who was thinking about retirement, felt that the market is about to change. A new star was on the rise, who "took the better design features and went into production and sale of his own brand": Janek Kunczynski. Jump also "was less eager to drive thousands of miles to accept the liabilities that were inherent in a skilift supply business". And finally he wasn't able to compete with Hall, Riblet, Carlevaro, SLI, Borvig and later even Pomgalski (1966 triple at Hunter Mt.). After a "frustating year" in 1966, he started thinking about a $25,000 chair for short hills as it would be an "untapped market". Also financing was a big issue back then and named a "deciding factor". All this is why he ended A-Basin's involvements step by step.

Pomalift, Inc.
Jul 9, 1954/55: Distributorship agreement between Pomagalski and Pomalift (both 1954 and 1955 are shown on the document).
Jun 12, 1962: According to the factory in Fontaine, France, Pomalift has made “tremendous sales of chairlifts in the US”.
Mar 21, 1963: Special Directors Meeting of Pomalift. The "current problem" with Pomagalski was discussed and "it appeared to be the general consensus of the board that Mr. Jump should meet with Mr. Pomagalski (…) to negotiate terms for extending the distributorship arrangement for a period of one year (…)".
Mar 19, 1965: Jump receives a letter from "Ingwersen Industries" that confirms the progress in building a fiberglass gondola.

Telecar, Inc.
Some details from an undated memo between Felice Savio and Jump (likely 1957) used to prepare the contract:
- Territory: U.S.A.
- Term: 5 years
- Exclusive features:
-- "Pomalift, Inc. has the exclusive agency for S-C Telecabin and, if Pomagaslki agrees, the S-C Teleciege."
-- "Pomalift, Inc. agrees to handle no products competing with S-C products except the Pomagaslki monte-pentes and fixed chair lift"
Mar 28, 1957: Jump is discussing the new agreement with his lawyer and wonders about a possible name. He did not want to use the "inventors' names or their Italian trademark which is something like 'Carlosavski'.". They have authorized Pomalift, "after some hesitation", to give it another name. His first idea was "Telecar", then "Gondolift" or "Skitram". But only a month later, the Italian associates "have not yet agreed". They kept "reverting to the idea that the name should be a combination of their own surnames. Since one of them is named Savio, all of their suggestions sound somewhat like a cure for men's diseases.".
Apr 5, 1957: Jump signed the agreement. He was also told by his lawyers to not make a reference on Neyret in a press release. The agreement between "Savio-Carlevaro" and Pomalift covers the sale of "(i) all ski lifts made and designed by Savio-Carlevaro, (ii) all ski lifts embodying any of their inventions which are subject of a U.S. or foreign patent or application, (iii) all spare parts and replacement parts for such lifts.". Also Pomalift became the exclusive representative in the U.S.
Apr 11, 1957: Pomalift was already obtaining bids for two lifts, so there was a need to get the agreement signed.
May 1, 1957: As Jump is able to "undersell" the US manufacturers with his lifts being made in Europe, there is a concern that the other manufacturers try to have the customes duties raised. His lawyer is looking for a way prevent this by joining "some trade organization or subscribed to some publication" so "that they will be able to take the matter up in Washington".
Jul 17, 1957: Telecar, Inc. is incorporated at 2:00 pm in the State of Colorado.
Jun 18, 1957: Jump's lawyer congratulates him on a sale (Stone Harbor, NJ, is mentioned in the subject), but he is "deeply concerned about the Neyret situation". In his reply, Jump told him not to "worry too much about the Neyret Belier affair".
Feb 25, 1958: Jump tells a possible customer that Dr. Savio is now “willing to bid on a double chairlift”.
Jun 18, 1958: The trademark application ask for specimens to comply with the law.
Mar 27, 1959: The U.S. Department of Commerce is having various questions about the relationship between Pomalift and Telecar and if the mark is applied on the finished product.
May 18, 1960: Jump tells his lawyer that they "shall try to get from Savio labels with the name 'Telecar' on them, and have these displayed on our two installations to date, plus the chairlifts.".
Jul 8, 1960: Jump and his lawyer are discussing McIlvaine's patent after Savio was worried about the installations already made. As McIlvaine is a potential customer "for a number of chairlifts possibly next year", Savio wants to offer him 50 cent per unit. After a search conducted by the lawyer, an issued patent under the name "Sandy MacIlvaine" could not be found, but they were discussing the potential use of a fake name.
Jan 16, 1962: Jump's lawyer has prepared a new distributorship agreement betweent Telecar and Savio-Carlevaro.
Jan 19, 1962: Jump tells his lawyer that Savio's medical report is "not too encouraging" and Carlevaro "is almost ready to retire". He was also ready to "drop any competing chairlift or to refrain from manufacturing them ourselves" if the freedom on surface lifts can be otained.
Feb 19, 1962: The lawyer is "still in the dark on the matter of the Savio contract" and suggests to "conclude these negotiations in spite of Dr. Savio's illness". This it the last letter send in this regard.

Miner-Denver, Inc. (Miner Machine Co. / Cutler-Hammer, Inc. / James C. Wright & Assoc., Inc.)
Jan 18, 1962: Jump ordered a sample of Pomalift buttons from the Miner Machine Co.
Oct 11, 1963: Telecar orders rubber liners via Miner Machine from Kirkhill Rubber Co.
Feb 1, 1964: "Ski lifts built during 1963" (for Telecar): Beaver Mountain, Slide Mountain, Surface lifts: Pikes Peak, Mt. Christie, Gatlinburg. “Miner-Denver” is on the letterhead for the first time.
Sep 14, 1971: one double chairlift (1,900 ft length, 426 vertical, $51,500) was offered for Arapahoe East.
Oct 30, 1972: Order of "fabrication and delivery of the chairlift bullwheel modification", likely for Arapahoe Basin East.

Carlevaro & Savio
Jan 6, 1960: Savio-Pomalift "is now covering the whole of Canada"
Aug 21, 1962: Jump tells Mr. Festor of Savio-Pomalift that “Professor Carlevaro (…) will have other representation in Canada”. The name Savio is removed from the company’s name by December.

Installation lists
This is the unedited data from the archives (changes were only applied to typos and were mentioned).

Telecar
State	Area		Model		 Year    Capacity  Length   Vertical
CO	A-Basin  	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1959/60 800	   3010     710
CO	Buttermilk 	-	         -       900	   5240     1080
CO	Crested Butte 	Gondola	         -       850	   6845     1842  
ID	Bogus Basin  	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1959    800	   4040     890
MI	Hidden Valley	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1958    850	   1380     270
MI	Iroquois Point	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1959    900	   1131     370
MI	Nubs Nob	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1958    900	   1846     406
NC	Ghost Mt. Park 	-	         -       900	   2720     490
NY	Hunter Mt.  	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1959    1000	   2200     400
PA	Seven Springs  	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1959    1000	   1580     340
TN	Gatlinburg  	Double Chair	 1961    1000	   3500     800
TN	Gatlinburg  	Micro Chair	 1961    1000	   1000     150  
UT	Snow Basin  	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1959    800	   2490     545
VT	Mt. Snow  	Double Chair	 1961    1000	   -        -
VT	Killington  	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1959/60 700	   6000     1590
VT	Sugarbush  	Poma-Tele-Chair	 1959    450	   4700     1664
(tbc)


Pomalift
Notes:
- the following states are only included until 1962: CA, MA, ME, NY, NH, VT. In 1965, Jump told Kunczynski to not involve his businesses in any construction contract. They were "not licensed, nor qualified to do business in California".
State	Area		        Model	 Year    Capacity  Length   Vertical   Lift Ref.
AL	Artic Valley Ski Bowl	T-100	 1960    1000	   1780     670        746U
AL	Artic Valley Ski Bowl	B-20(sp) 1960    500	   1760     640        744U
AL	Eielson A.F.B.	        B12      1958    400	   1150     204        -
AL	Eielson A.F.B.	        F12      1965    710	   1765     245        4193
AL	Eielson A.F.B.	        F12conv  1967    800	   1150     207        3041
AL	Ft. Greely/Black Rapids B50      1965    500	   3250     628        2003
AL	Hillberg Lake/Elmenhof  B20      1957    1000	   1250     185        -
AL	Hillberg Lake/Elmenhof  F12Tbar  1967    800	   1470     185        4885
AL	Hillberg Lake/Elmenhof  B20      1967    1000	   1250     185        588
AL      Ladd A.F.B.             B20      1958    400       3000     600        -
AL	Mt. Aleyska             B20      1959    500	   1400     400        4786
AL	Mt. Aleyska             Chair    1960    600	   5800     2200       370U
AL	SSS Ski Lodge           B20      1958    400	   3000     600        287
AZ	Arizona Snow Bowl       B20      1958    400	   2100     721        238
AZ	Big Cienega             B15      1966    380	   1494     384        4059
AZ	Mt. Lemmon              B20      1963    450	   2370     700        2316
AZ	Wiliams Ski Bowl        B12      1962    650	   1000     250        3079
CA	Alpine Meadows          B50      1961    850	   1646     417        -
CA	Alpine Meadows          EC       1961    830	   685      95         -
CA	Deer Park Lodge         T50      1957    600	   2455     620        -
CA	Dodge Ridge Ski Slopes  T50      1955    660	   2467     610        -
CA	Dodge Ridge Ski Slopes  C30 (sp) 1958    600	   1700     232        -
CA	Granite Chief           T50      1961    900	   1450     443        -
CA	Green Valley Lake       B20      1954    650	   1181     300        -
CA	Hilltop Lodge           B20R     1959    400	   1910     387        -
CA	June Mountain           B20      1961    1000	   800      251        -
CA	Little Papoose          C        1958    400	   1200     200        -
CA	Little Papoose          D        1962    500	   600      100        -
CA	Moonridge               B50      1960    600	   2690     670        -
CA	Moonridge               B20      1961    670	   2200     453        -
CA	Powder Bowl (#2)        D        1960    400	   -        -          -
CA	Rainbow Tavern          B20      1957    400	   1785     410        -
CA	Rebel Ridge             D        1960    600	   800      100        -
CA	Sierra Ski Ranch        T100     1955    900	   2723     587        -
CA	Snow Shoe Basin         T50      1955    900	   1450     443        -
CA	Snow Valley             T50      1954    900	   1468     392        -
CA	Squaw Valley            T50      1954    450	   2546     873        -
CA	Squaw Valley            Chair    1962    1000	   780      208        -
CA	Squaw Valley            Chair    1962    900	   4431     706        -
CA	Squaw Valley            Chair    1962    750	   3850     1280       -
CA	Squaw Valley            Chair    1962    1100	   3102     587        -
CA	Table Mountain          T100     1955    1000	   2231     745        -
CA	Table Mountain (#2)     B50      1960    1000	   1630     310        -
CA	Table Mountain (#3)     B50      1961|62 1000	   1440     385        -
CO	Arapahoe Basin          T50      1956    660	   1827     587        263
CO	Arapahoe Basin          T100     1956    1000	   2356     702        244
CO	Arapahoe Basin          C15      1957    600	   900      100        5951
CO	Arapahoe Basin          Chair    1960    800	   2880     705        375U
(CO	Arapahoe Basin          Chair    1960    850	   3100     790        -)     likely a duplicate to 375U
CO	Arapahoe Basin          Chair    1961    600	   4050     970        1072
CO	Arapahoe Basin          B20      1966    600	   1700     350        4159
CO	Arapahoe Basin          B12      1968    400	   ?325     380        238
CO	Aspen Highlands         B12      1959    400	   1250     514        463
CO	Aspen Highlands         F10      1964    400	   550      107        2926
CO	Aspen Highlands         F10      1967    800	   550      107        4852
CO	Breckenridge            B100     1967    800	   3720     750        4716
CO	Breckenridge            B50      1967    600	   2440     640        4158
CO	Cranor Ski Hills        F12      1965    600	   1355     305        3748
CO	Cooper Hills            EC15     1967    500	   870      155        595
CO	Geneva Basin            F10      1965    600	   615      805        3749
CO	Geneva Basin            B20      1967    930	   1220     303        4838
CO	Glen Cove               B12port  1954    400	   1126     259        -
CO	Grand Mesa/Powderhorn   B20      1954    270	   2953     866        287
CO	Grand Mesa/Powderhorn   B20      1961    600	   1520     380        1170
CO	Idlewild Lodge          Chair    1960    600	   2162     344        4166
CO	Idlewild Lodge          F10      1967    600	   749      121        820
CO	Lake City               EC15     1964    450	   1068     218        1864
CO	Loveland Valley         F10      1965    700	   830      123        4170
CO	Meadow Mt.              F10      1966    600	   577      83         4169
CO	Monarch Pass            F10      1965    600	   400      40         -
CO	Mt. Werner              B12      1961    440	   2000     275        1327
CO	Mt. Werner              EC15     1965    420	   800      114        2314
CO	Pikes Peak              B12      1954    400	   1125     259        324
CO	Pikes Peak              EC15     1963    600	   430      55         Miner
CO	Purgatory Ski Area      F10      1965    800	   610      90         3589
CO	St. Marys Glacier       C        1960    500	   775      90         -
CO	Storm Mountain          B12      1961    440	   2000     275        -
CO	Sunlight Ski Area       F10      1966    600	   505      105        4171
CO	Vail                    C        1962    825	   916      88         1359C
CO	Vail                    F10      1967    600	   644      96         4800
CO	Wolf Creek              B20      1955    440	   2356     689        202
CO	Wolf Creek              F10      1965    500	   900      140        3592
ID	Bogus Basin             T50      1957    600	   2355     555        561
ID	Bogus Basin             B20      1957    425	   2210     450        559
ID	Bogus Basin             Chair    1959    800	   4000     890        399
ID	Caribou Mountain        B20      1961    286	   1400     276        -
ID	Caribou Mountain        Extended 1962    -	   -        -          -
ID	Lookout Pass            T50      1956    550	   2345     712        538
ID	Lookout Pass            F20      1967    850	   2715     760        4731
ID	Magic Mtn.              FB12     1965    400	   1760     440        3541
ID	Mount Bonneville        T50      1957    345	   3443     1215       -
ID	Skyline                 T50spec  1957    345	   3443     1215       586
ID	Skyline                 F12      1964    300	   1135     300        2391
ID	Sun Valley              F12T     1965    600	   900      290        3591
ID	Taylor Mountain         B50      1961    500	   2100     542        -
ID	Taylor Mountain         Extended 1962    -	   -        -          -
IA	Crescent Hills          F10      1966    600	   1250     150        2937
IA	Tamarack Mountain       Chair    1962    1000	   1050     180        -
IA	Tamarack Mountain       E-C      1962    900	   870      110        -
MA	Bousquet Ski Area       B20      1957    950	   1250     270        -
MA	Bousquet Ski Area       B20      1957    800	   1150     303        -
MA	Otis Ridge              B20      1956    750	   1477     321        -
MD	Deep Creek Ski Area     B12      1958    380	   1435     415        2937
ME	Mars Hill               B50      1960    640	   2310     558        -
ME	Titcomb Memorial        B20      1956    800	   1200     279        -
MI	Ausable                 B12R     1960    660	   819      144        828
MI	Ausable                 B15      1964    850	   870      155        2801
MI	Avalanche               B12      1958    600	   1036     260        -
MI	Avalanche               B12      1960    700	   1200     201        -
MI	Boyne Highlands         B20      1957    750	   1400     275        600
MI	Crystal Mtn.            B20      1961    1000	   953      253        1360U
MI	Glacier Hills           B12      1963    800	   1140     174        2445
MI	Grampian Mountain       B12      1959    500	   700      100        -
MI	Grayling Comm. Rec. As. F12T     1965    1000	   903      138        3590
MI	Grayling Comm. Rec. As. C        1966    700	   730      100        4093
MI	Grayling Comm. Rec. As. Chair    1966    1000	   950      135        4094
MI	Harbor Highlands        B20      1957    750	   1400     275        -
MI	Iroquis                 Chair    1959    900	   1131     370        371
MI	Kandahar Ski Club       F12      1966    1000	   1058     154        4164
MI	Mt. Christie            C        1958    700	   1050     200        663
MI	Mt. Mancelona           B12      1961    900	   720      200        1320
MI	Mt. Maplehurst          F12      1966    800	   990      150        1320
MI	Mt. Maria               B15      1964    900	   1250     230        2854
MI	Nubs Nob                Chair    1958    900	   1846     409        313
MI	Nubs Nob                B20R     1960    850	   1725     265        698U
MI	Nubs Nob                Chair    1961    800	   1485     355        1299U
MI	Otsego Club             Chair    1958    850	   1380     270        312U
MI	Shanty Creek            B12      1963    850	   950      210        2384
MI	Shanty Creek            B12      1963    760	   887      215        2385
MI	Sheridan Valley         B15      1964    800	   1250     188        2800
MI	Snow Valley             EC15     1963    800	   540      86         2435
MI	Snow Valley             B12      1963    900	   455      73         2279
MI	Sylvan Knob             B20      1954    430	   1218     177        O309
MI	Sylvan Knob             B12      1959    500	   700      100        488
MI	Sylvan Knob             B20R     1960    1000	   823      200        6990
MI	Sylvan Knob             B12      1963    800	   1023     175        2445
MI	Thunder Mtn.            B20R     1957    500	   2400     470        582
MI	Village Inn             EC15     1961    800	   815      98         1025U
MI	Walloon Hills           T50      1957    1000	   2000     355        329
MN	Afton Alps              B20      1963    900	   1200     300        2396
MN	Detroit Lakes           F12T     1966    950	   1073     191        4163
MN	Gull Lake               F12T     1961    900	   1350     166        2938
MN	Lutsen Resort           B50spec  1959    630	   2570     610        391
MN	Lutsen Resort           T100     1965    500	   4500     620        3360
MN	Pine Bend               B20      1963    900	   1100     200        2361
MN	Pine Bend               B20      1963    900	   1500     210        2362
MO	Tan-tar-a               F12T     1964    800	   1500     180        2927
MT	Bear Paw                B20R     1960    500	   1325     335        870U
MT	Belmont Ski Club        EC15     1960    370	   1000     190        560U
MT	Big Mtn.                B12      1958    500	   1700     232        309
MT	Grizzley Peak           C15      1959-67 550       1000	    160        534
MT	Grizzley Peak           F10      1968    550       1112	    414        3000
MT	Grizzley Peak           BabyTele -       -         -	    -          -
MT	Grizzley Peak           BabyTele -       -         -	    -          -
MT	Kings Hill              B20      1956    300       3600	    935        465
MT	Marshall                F20      1965    800       2880	    865        3670
MT	Missoula Snow Bowl      B20      1955    400       2100	    675        646
MT	Missoula Snow Bowl      D        1961    400       400	    75         -
NM	Arrowhead Skiway        T50      1962    880       2325	    408        -
NH	Arrowhead Skiway        E-C      1962    660       855	    165        -
NH	Cranmore Mountain       B20      1955    800       1909	    394        -
NH	Holts Ledge, Dartm. Sk. T100     1956    800       3775	    936        -
NH	Intervale Ski Slopes    B20      1955    600       1564	    400        -
NH	Mt. Sunapee             T50      1957    900       1551	    356        -
NH	Pinnacle Mountain       E-C      1962    800       570	    100        -
NM	Cloudcroft              F10T     1964    750       770	    140        2925
NM	La Madera               C15      1961    400       940	    160        805
NM	Lake Peak               B12R     1957    1200      770	    200        869
NM	Lake Peak               C15      1959    800       450	    70         439
NM	Raton Ski Basin         B15      1967    -         -	    -          4763
NM	Red River               B12      1960    750       850	    150        865
NM	Santa Fe Ski Basin      B12      1957    1200      770	    200        -
NM	Santa Fe Ski Basin      C        1959    800       450	    70         -
NM	Sipapu                  B12R     1960    320       1667	    437        6200
NM	Sipapu                  FB10     1964    600       528	    105        6200
NM	Sierra Blanca           F10      1966    600       396	    54         2824
NM	Taos Ski Valley         B20      1957    185       3900	    1600       578
NM	Taos Ski Valley         F10      1957    600       560	    144        4168
NM	Taos Ski Valley         B12      1957    525       900	    200        -
NM	Taos Ski Valley         C15      1960    400       620	    80         -
NY	Big Basin               B12      1956    625       1100	    204        -
NY	Fahnestock Memorial SP  E-C      1962    850       573	    70         -
NY	Fawn Ridge              B20      1955    1000      1168	    130        -
NY	Gunset Ski Bowl         B12      1961    1000      800	    110        -
NY	Hickory Hill            B20      1955    500       2155	    627        -
NY	Holiday Mountain        B20      1957    800       1000	    205        -
NY	Holiday Mountain        Extended 1962    -         -	    -          -
NY	Hunter Mountain         Chair    1959    1000      2200	    400        -
NY	Hunter Mountain         Chair    1959    1000      2600	    600        -
NY	Hunter Mountain         D        1960    500       600	    85         -
NY	Mt. Storm               B12      1962    800       1045	    198        -
NY	Petersburg Pass         Chair    1962    1000      3000	    510        -
NY	Scotts Cabble           B20      1955    800       1355	    302        -
NY	Silver King/Bear Mtn.   D        1960    -         -	    -          -
NY	Snow Ridge              T50      1953    800       2139	    455        -
NY	Sterling Forest Gardens Chair    1962    1000      1350	    248        -
NY	Sterling Forest Gardens Chair    1962    1000      1850	    283        -
NY	Sterling Forest Gardens E-C      1962    715       600	    100        -
OH	Sugar Creek Ski Area    F10      1967    600       679	    155        4974
OR	Anthony Lakes           B50      1963    640       3270	    854        -
OR	Anthony Lakes           EC15     1963    700       620	    98         2454
OR	Mt. Ashland             F10      1965    640       700	    174        3588
OR	Mt. Bachelor            T50      1958    690       2700	    890        232
OR	Timberline Lodge        EC15port 1964    300       1200	    350        -
OR	Timberline Lodge        F10port  1965    300       1200	    350        3356
OR	Tomahawk Ski Bowl       T50      1956    650       2250	    630        449
OR	Willamette Pass         T50      1958    550       2700	    690        233
PA	Buck Hills Falls        B12      1961    900       1062	    138        -
PA	Buck Hills Falls        EC30     1962    900       900	    110        -
PA	Camp Soles              B12      1956    500       1240	    265        -
PA	Denton Hill State Park  B20      1958    700       1570	    384        -
PA	Denton Hill State Park  C        1958    700       800	    120        -
PA	Denton Hill State Park  E-C      1962    450       800	    200        -
PA	Hidden Valley Farm      C        1958    600       830	    193        -
PA	Hidden Valley Farm      B20      1962    400       1785	    400        -
PA	Highland Ski Area       C        1958    600       830	    193        -
PA	Highland Ski Area       B20      1092    400       1785	    400        -
PA	Indian Lake             E-C      1962    600       865	    172        1994
PA	Indian Lake             F10      1966    -         -	    -          -
PA	Seven Springs Ski Area  B20R     1957    600       1200	    350        550
PA	Seven Springs Ski Area  B20      1958    600       1400	    350        272
PA	Seven Springs Ski Area  Chair    1959    1000      1580	    340        496
PA	White Mountain          B20      1962    725       1605	    384        -
SD	Stewart Slope           B20      1961|62 500       2180	    455        885
SD	Terry Peak              E-C      1960    450       860	    205        885
SD	Terry Peak              B20      1962    500       2180	    455        1882
SD	Terry Peak              F12      1965    800       1000	    195        2846
UT	Beaver Mtn.             Chair    1961    700       3090	    1020       1096U
UT	Beaver Mtn.             B15      1967    -         -	    -          4161
UT	Monticello Ski Club     T50      1958    360       2000	    789        2980
UT	Snow Basin              Chair    1959    800       2420	    545        374
UT	Snow Basin              Chair    1961    600       4400	    1056       -
UT	Solitude                B50      1959    750       2300	    480        -
UT	Timp Haven              B20      1960    690       2440	    558        844
VT	Big Bromley             T50      1955    900       2190	    370        -
VT	Burke Mountain          T100     1955    500       5196	    1483       -
VT	Burke Mountain          B12R|D   1960    -         -	    -          -
VT	Hogback Mountain        T50      1955    1000      1791	    266        -
VT	Jay Peak                T50      1956    800       2020	    583        -
VT	Jay Peak                Extended 1957    -         3580	    1155       -
VT	Killington Basin        B50      1957    700       2300	    450        -
VT	Killington Basin        B50      1958    700       2050	    470        -
VT	Killington Basin        B50      1958    700       4000	    1200       -
VT	Killington Basin        C        1958    700       575	    108        -
VT	Killington Basin        Chair    1959    800       6000	    1750       -
VT	Killington Basin        Chair    1961    700       3280	    498        -
VT	Killington Basin        D        1961    600       400	    100        -
VT	Killington Basin        Chair    1962    850       6600	    1350       -
VT	Mount Tom               B20R     1960    580       2200	    425        -
VT	Mount Tom               D        1961    410       465	    69         -
VT	Norwich University      B12R     1962    525       1448	    323        -
VT	Okemo Mountain          T100     1955    450       6168	    1565       -
VT	Okemo Mountain          B20R     1955    800       1916	    295        -
VT	Okemo Mountain          B20R     1958    760       2011	    295        -
VT	Okemo Mountain          T100     1960    1000      3150     600        -
VT	Okemo Mountain          D        1960    -         500	    60         -
VT	Skyline Ski Area        T50      1957    1000      1748	    341        -
VT	Smugglers Notch         T100     1956    900       3500	    890        -
VT	Smugglers Notch         T100     1956    1000      1960	    472        -
VT	Smugglers Notch         E-C      1961    465       840	    180        -
VT	Snow Bowl               T100     1954    920       3478	    738        -
VT	Snow Valley             B12R     1960    535       1500	    285        -
VT	Sugarbush Valley        Chair    1959    700       4100	    1664       -
VT	Suicide Six             T100     1954    1000      2329	    617        -
WA	Chewelah                B20      1959    800       1010	    330        396U
WA	Hyak Ski Area           B20      1959    800       1062	    208        504U
WA	Hyak Ski Area           T100     1959    500       2395	    825        489U
WA	Loup Loup               B100     1967    -         -	    -          4137
WA	Snoqualmie Pass         B20R     1955    900       972	    200        396
WA	Snoqualmie Pass         T50      1955    1070      1214	    305        385
WA	Snoqualmie Pass         Extended 1958    -         -	    -          -
WA	Snoqualmie Pass         T50      1959    490       2655	    840        388
WA	Snoqualmie Pass         T50      -       -         -	    -          387
WA	Snoqualmie Pass         B20      1964    750       1500	    345        2780
WA	Squilchik Ski Tows      B20      1959    800       1010	    330        -
WA	White Pass              T50      1955    800       2054	    518        627
WI	Cascade Mtn.            Chair    1961    600       2285	    364        1211U
WI	Gander Mtn.             B12      1959    800       1000	    190        495
WI	Gander Mtn.             EC30     1963    800       680	    68         1967
WI	Mt. Lacrosse            B12      1959    400       1040	    246        516U
WI	Sheltered Valley        B12      1954    600       663	    92         -
WV	Oglebay Park            B12      1963    650       975	    170        2363
WV	Oglebay Park            F10      1964    600       820	    154        2951
WV	Mountaintop Vacationl.  F10      1966    600       840	    110        4131
WV	Mountaintop Vacationl.  F12      1966    900       1100	    120        4132
WY	Meadowlark              B20      1963    440       2345	    850        2276
WY	Meadowlark              F10      1964    400       884	    150        2279
WY	Pinedale Winter Sports  B50      1961    300       4000	    870        1147
WY	Ryan Park               C        1958    375       1270	    230        263


Miner-Denver
State	Area		        Name          Model    Year    Capacity  Length   Vertical   Speed   Chairs
(CO	Pikes Peak              -             EC15     1963    600	 430      55) tbc    -       -
CO	Pikes Peak              -             Surface  1963    -         -        -          -       - 
MI	Mt. Christie            -             Surface  1963    -         -        -          -       -
NV	Slide Mountain 	        -             Chair    1963    -         -        -          -       -
TN	Gatlinburg              -             Surface  1963    -         -        -          -       -
UT	Beaver Mountain 	-             Chair    1963    -         -        -          -       -
CA      Squaw Valley            Shirley Lake  Chair    1964    -         -        -          -       -
CA      Squaw Valley            Emigrant Pass Chair    1964    -         -        -          -       -
ID*     Bear Gulch Ski Area     ?             Double   1965    600       1930     478        500     39
NM      Santa Fe                ?             Chair    ?       -         -        -          -       -
NY      Hunter Mountain         ?             Chair    ?       -         -        -          -       -
MI      Otsego Ski Club         No. 3         Chair    ?       -         -        -          -       -
CO      Arapahoe East           ?             Chair    1971    -         1,900    426        -       -
(tbc)

*not in the installation records, but mentioned elsewhere in the documents

Carlevaro & Savio
State	Area		        Model     Year    Capacity  Length (m)  Vertical (m)   
VT      Mt. Snow                Ropeway   19??    120       610         25        
NH      Wildcat                 Gondola   1957    600       1963        609        
VT      Sugarbush               Gondola   1958    600       2827        704
CT      Mohawk                  Double    1960    1000      946         177        
VT      Mt. Snow                Double    1960    900       2135        438
VT      Mt. Snow                Double    1960    1000      610         122        
VT      Sugarbush               Double    1960    700       1066        372
NC      Ghost Mtn.              Double    1961    900       830         149
NC      Gatlinburg              Double    1961    1000      942         239
NC      Gatlinburg              Double    1961    1000      305         46
MA      Bosquet                 Double    1962    1000      815         212
CO      Aspen                   Double    1962    800       1732        355
VT      Mt. Snow                Double    1962    1000      1551        328
MA      Butternut               Double    1963    1000      1169        252
NY      Windham                 Double    1963    1000      1678        427
NY      Greek Peak              Double    1963    1000      1356        228
VT      Mt. Snow                Double    1963    1000      1159        312
VT      Sugarbush               Double    1963    1000      1174        252
NC      Cherokee                Gondola   1963    1500      521         14
FL      Silver Springs          Gondola   1963    1500      927         3
NY      Bristol Mt.             Double    1964    1200      1128        319
NY      Bristol Mt.             Double    1964    1200      1128        319
VT      Sugarbush               Double    1964    1000      549         88
NY      Windham                 Triple    1964    1800      1000        208
VT      Mt. Snow                Gondola   1964    1000      2200        485
VT      Pico Peak               Double    1965    1000      1262        390
VT      Pico Peak               Double    1965    1000      156         24
MA      Woburn                  Double    1966    1000      300         62
NH      Dartmouth               Double    1967    1000      1142        268
NY      Dutchess                Double    1967    800       198         25
NY      Dutchess                Double    1967    1200      498         198
NC      Beech Mt.               Gondola   1967    1000      885         228
MA      Butternut               Double    1968    1200      910         195
VT      Killington              Gondola   1968    1500      2550        362
VT      Killington              Gondola   1968    1500      1480        410
CT      Mohawk                  Double    1969    1200      640         139
VT      Mt. Snow                Double    1969    1000      297         114
MA      Butternut               Double    1969    1200      115         15
VT      Pico Peak               Double    1969    1200      494         156
VT      Killington              Gondola   1969    1500      1403        126
VT      Mt. Snow                Gondola   1969    1000      1443        306

Source: Agudio

This post has been edited by sheave: 23 March 2022 - 11:16 AM


#2 liftmech

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Posted 22 March 2021 - 07:35 AM

Interesting stuff here.
Member, Department of Ancient Technology, Colorado chapter.

#3 Peter Pitcher

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Posted 22 March 2021 - 09:36 AM

Santa Fe Ski area had two Poma surface lifts in 1962, one was a f10 fixed grip and the other was a B 12 detachable grip. Santa Fe also built a Miner Denver Chairlift in 1964 and a T 210 Poma surface lift in 1972. They also had a H 90 surface lift that they got from somewhere.
Wolf Creek still has a Poma surface lift that operates, I think it is a B 20.

#4 sheave

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Posted 22 March 2021 - 10:44 AM

View PostPeter Pitcher, on 22 March 2021 - 09:36 AM, said:

Santa Fe Ski area had two Poma surface lifts in 1962, one was a f10 fixed grip and the other was a B 12 detachable grip. Santa Fe also built a Miner Denver Chairlift in 1964 and a T 210 Poma surface lift in 1972. They also had a H 90 surface lift that they got from somewhere.
Wolf Creek still has a Poma surface lift that operates, I think it is a B 20.

I will add Santa Fe and Wolf Creek to the list above soon. Santa Fe is first listed with a 1957 B-12-R (the R is removed in later records). In 1959, a Model C is added (later named C15 at Lake Peak). Wolf Creek: B-20(-R) (1955) and F-10 (1965). It looks like the naming was slightly changed later by removing the dashes.

#5 Conrad

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 05:27 PM

Extremely interesting information and a great treasure trove of data. Now we know why Pomalifts are called Pomalifts. Literally it was the name of the American subsidiary and not just people putting words together. It's been a couple months since I checked here so it was exciting to see all the great information here.

Now beggars can't be choosers, but if you are looking for further topics to get into, I would be extremely curious to know more about how Heron Poma came about and why it seems to have ended in 1974 and Poma went downhill until the 80's. I can find barely anything on the subject.

#6 sheave

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Posted 29 May 2023 - 08:57 AM

We are now starting to raise funds for the digitization of the whole Larry Jump collection! More information on how to donate can be found here: Attached File  Jump_Flyer.pdf (865.69K)
Number of downloads: 3

Laurence “Larry” Jump Papers Digitization Project

Laurence “Larry” Jump & Arapahoe Basin
Laurence “Larry” Jump, a soldier in the 10th Mountain Division, 87th Infantry Regiment at Camp Hale, Colorado, was a founder of Arapahoe Basin and Arapahoe Basin East and an important figure in the formation of Telecar and Poma companies. After becoming a sales representative for Poma, Inc. in the early 1950s, Larry Jump helped Arapahoe Basin acquire the company’s exclusive product distribution rights. In 1953, the first Pomalift in the United States was installed at Arapahoe Basin, modernizing the ski area and popularizing it as a destination for both locals and tourists alike, a tradition that continues today. The Larry Jump collection houses exclusive Poma ski lift engineering and design plans that are of historical significance to Colorado and the ski industry. The Laurence “Larry” Jump and Arapahoe Basin Records were donated to Denver Public Library by his wife Marjorie Jump on August 30, 1997.

Project Background & Overview
The Laurence “Larry” Jump collection includes rare, one-of-a-kind booklets, brochures, and blueprints for ski lift products as well as early photographs and documentation of the Arapahoe Basin ski area that are housed exclusively in Denver Public Library's Special Collections and Archives. The Larry Jump collection dates from Jump’s graduation at Phillips Exeter Academy in 1932 through to newspaper articles on Arapahoe Basin from 1997. It also includes significant business records related to Jump’s role in the development of several companies, including Mountain Lifts, Sell, Inc., and Lift Services, Inc., among others.

Project Timeline
In 2021, a researcher inquired about gaining digital access to information about Pomalift and Telecar companies, renewing interest among the staff to make these in-demand materials in the Larry Jump collection available to a wider audience. In 2021 and 2022, DPL archivists and librarians identified a vendor with the technology required to digitize items in the collection. In early 2023, DPL archivists were notified that a cohort of interested researchers across Europe had started a crowdfunding campaign to help support the project. In 2023, DPL will implement a new digital asset management system, which will host the library’s digital collections, including the Larry Jump Papers. If funded, DPL archivists and librarians would add new content to the system on a rolling basis over the course of approximately two years, during which time they would also share newly available content and project progress with the community through blogs and newsletters.

Funding Opportunity
At present, there is an opportunity to digitize the collection so that more historians, engineers, designers and ski enthusiasts across the world have online access to these exciting and rare materials. Based on estimated costs, an initial amount of $50,000 needs to be secured before the library can commit to starting this project. In addition to the digitization and organization of these materials, funding will support DPL’s capacity to create required metadata and host the collection on its own searchable, digital platform. The newly digitized Larry Jump collection, when complete, will be hosted online by the Denver Public Library, helping to advance the organization’s mission to provide spaces where all are free to explore and connect, and continuing the library’s enduring legacy of providing access to cultural and historical knowledge that is unique to Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West.

About the Denver Public Library Genealogy, African American & Western History Resources
The Denver Public Library's Special Collections and Archives, part of the Denver Public Library Genealogy, African American & Western History Resources Collection, is recognized as one of the most significant collections of Western Americana in the country. The collection reflects all phases of development of the trans-Mississippi West, with strong focus on the Rocky Mountain West. The collection continues to grow and presently includes 250,000+ cataloged books, pamphlets, atlases, maps, and microform titles. In addition, it offers over 600,000 photographs, 5,000+ manuscript archives, and a remarkable collection of Western fine art and prints to researchers across the world.

One of the major collecting areas within the Special Collections and Archives department is the 10th Mountain Division. In 1987, the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division partnered with Denver Public Library and History Colorado to create the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center, which is the official repository for all records and artifacts related to the World War II-era 10th Mountain Division. The 10th Mountain Division Resource Center works closely with a network of 10th Mountain Division-related organizations that make up the 10th Mountain Division History Forum. The Forum currently includes the 10th Mountain Division Foundation, the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, the 10th Mountain Division Descendants, the University of Denver, the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame in Vail, the Broomfield Veterans Museum in Broomfield, the 10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum in New York, the New England Ski Museum in New Hampshire, and the 10th Mountain Division Living History Display Group. These organizations share resources and collaborate regularly when planning presentations and other outreach efforts, so digitizing the Laurence Jump collection will have a far-reaching effect. The collection at Denver Public Library includes: personal and military correspondence and documents; photographs and scrapbooks; newspapers, magazines, maps, and books; oral histories; field and technical manuals; artwork and ephemera; and training films and personal videos. Of significant relevance to the 10th Mountain Division collections is the Laurence “Larry” Jump collection, as Jump was a World War II soldier in the 10th Mountain Division, 87th Infantry Regiment at Camp Hale, Colorado.

This post has been edited by sheave: 29 May 2023 - 09:06 AM






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