Coaster Kingdom

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100 years ago, Sir Hiram Maxim opened three Captive Flying Machines to fund his project to become the first man to fly a measured mile.

This biography celebrates the colourful life of Sir Hiram Maxim and how his influence helped shape modern society. 

Sir Hiram Maxim

Bibliography
With thanks to the following sources of information:

Bennett, Peter.
“Blackpool Pleasure Beach – A Century of Fun”
& 
“Blackpool Pleasure Beach – 100 Years of Fun”

1996, Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Hamilton, James & Holmes, Phil. 
“Chronic Inventor - Life and Work of Hiram Stevens Maxim, 1840-1916”

1991, Bexley, London Borough of, Directorate of Education, Libraries & Museums

Hawkey, Arthur.
“The Amazing Hiram Maxim – An Intimate Biography”

2001, Spellmount

Sangerville Public Library
http://www.sangerville.lib.me.us/index.html

Dartford Archive
http://www.dartfordarchive.org.uk/technology/engin_maxim.shtml

Willow Grove Park remembered
http://indians.syr.edu/mfrantz/wgpark/walk.asp?wid=10

The Maxim Inhaler
http://www.nmsi.ac.uk/piclib/imagerecord.asp?id=10324710
 

ARRL, distributor of the Hiram Percy Maxim Award
http://www.arrl.org/

Credits
The following sources kindly granted the use of their resources:

Carroll Gray (http://www.flyingmachines.org/)  
Terry Cooper (http://www.deltatango.freeserve.co.uk/amusements.html)  
StrongBrains.com (http://www.strongbrains.com)  

Copyright

Understand that this article in it's entirety is strictly copyrighted. If it is your intention to use or syndicate any of this content, explicit permission must first be given by ourselves or the copyright holder.  

 

 

 

 

Anniversary Features

Flying Machines

Review
Maxim's Captive Flying Machines are reviewed

Time Flies
A brief look back at how Blackpool Pleasure Beach has evolved around the timeless Flying Machines

Maxim Biography
A look back at master inventor, Sir Hiram Maxim

Big One

Review
The Pepsi Max Big One is reviewed

The Big Ten
A look at the Big One over the last ten years and the impact it's had

Making a Molehill out of a Mountain
Building the tallest coaster in the world in a park where it just won't fit 

Shockwave

Review
Shockwave is reviewed

Shockwave's Shockwaves
Drayton Manor before Shockwave, and how Shockwave has changed the park

Colin Bryan Interview
Exclusive interview with Park Manager and family owner of Drayton Manor