History of the Twister

History of the Twister

The Twist is also known as the scrambler, grass cutter twist and the newer models are known as Sizzler Twists and cyclone Twist.

Richard Harris of Georgia invented the first scrambler in 1938. He made and sold 3 before being granted a U.S patent for the design in 1941. It was then licensed by the Eli Bridge Company based in Illinois, but before making any scramblers, W.E.Sullivan (owner of Eli Bridge) made Ferris Wheels after riding the Ferris Wheel at the Chicago's World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, it wasn’t until late 1953 that he’d completed his first scrambler and by the end of 1954 had made and sold 5 rides. Its major showing was in 1955 at Florida State Fair, where it grossed $1,700 (at 25 cents a ride) in a single day and interested many additional buyers. Scramblers are still extremely popular in America and are found in many theme parks.

But it still took four years for the rides to appear in the UK and was manufactured by Edwin Hall under licence from Eli Bridge in 1959, Eli Bridge rides were later imported in 1979.

There are only several of the original style grasscutter twist rides travelling in the UK today. By the 1980’s the scrambler or grasscutter twist had a major glow-up, and the new platformed styled ‘Twist’ or ‘Sizzler Twist’ made its debut. With its bright aesthetics and thicker arm strength, the ride is bigger, bolder and brighter. However, just when you thought the Twist couldn’t get any better, we now have the Cyclone. Although still relatively new on the scene, they provide the same ride as the Sizzler Twist but the centre pole lifts as it spins providing an even more thrilling experience.