This Riblet-SLI hybrid was built in 1977.SLI tower with Riblet sheaves.View down the short lift line.Upper part of the lift line.Tower 1.View up from the base area.Lift overview.Riblet drive terminal and loading area.
Is it common for a lift to be built by one of the major manufacturers (in this case Riblet) and listed as such in the SAM Lift Installation Survey (as this was in 1977), but be constructed partially with components from another manufacturer? This one seems very odd, as it has a standard late 1970’s overhead drive-tension terminal design from Riblet, standard Riblet return terminal, Riblet sheaves, but has the SLI towers and carriers. I can’t tell if Riblet retro-fitted the grips to be integrated with the haul rope or kept the SLI grips. Also, is that a Doppelmayr upper bullwheel?
SLI was in the process of merging with Riblet in the late 1970s and as a result some SLI chairs from that time have some SLI components. Shadow mountain at Aspen also has some riblet parts- https://liftblog.com/shadow-mountain-aspen-mountain-co/
As for other lifts that have components from another manufacturer, it’s quite rare. Many lifts installed throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s were retrofitted after installation with parts from dopplemayr/poma parts thanks to design flaws.
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Is it common for a lift to be built by one of the major manufacturers (in this case Riblet) and listed as such in the SAM Lift Installation Survey (as this was in 1977), but be constructed partially with components from another manufacturer? This one seems very odd, as it has a standard late 1970’s overhead drive-tension terminal design from Riblet, standard Riblet return terminal, Riblet sheaves, but has the SLI towers and carriers. I can’t tell if Riblet retro-fitted the grips to be integrated with the haul rope or kept the SLI grips. Also, is that a Doppelmayr upper bullwheel?
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SLI was in the process of merging with Riblet in the late 1970s and as a result some SLI chairs from that time have some SLI components. Shadow mountain at Aspen also has some riblet parts- https://liftblog.com/shadow-mountain-aspen-mountain-co/
As for other lifts that have components from another manufacturer, it’s quite rare. Many lifts installed throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s were retrofitted after installation with parts from dopplemayr/poma parts thanks to design flaws.
Some more unique lifts:
Poma/Borvig triple chair- https://liftblog.com/eclipse-tenney-mountain-nh/
CTEC/Von roll high speed quad- https://liftblog.com/eagle-express-solitude-ut/
Poma/Yan triple chair- https://liftblog.com/sweetwater-jackson-hole-wy/
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Best lift at Powder Ridge if it’s EVER running. It has much nicer laps on every good run at the resort then the quad other than the terrain park.
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