When Ripley’s Entertainment got the approval to set up a museum across the street from the famous Alamo complex, they set out to build the largest and most interactive museum in the United States.

Most often located in prime tourist areas, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums are reputed for being one of the most unique, quirky and factually interesting attractions of its kind.
The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium attraction at the Alamo is a three story Museum of ‘oddities’ – a display of odd findings from Robert Ripley’s world travels. Ripley’s Entertainment wanted more than just a static display of pictures and artifacts; they wanted to create a unique exhibit that would be highly engaging and memorable for all visitors.

The Challenges

Although this was not a typical material handling conveyor project, creating animated displays is something that Pacline Overhead Conveyors has had plenty of experience in over the years. PACLINE has been involved in creating highly effective moving displays in retail stores, restaurants, museums – you name it! As Project Engineer Ron Phillips put it, when it comes to creative displays of any kind, “if things are moving, people will look.”

The concept for the new Ripley’s Odditorium involved a conveyor running along the third floor ceiling. It was to give the illusion of cargo (containing artifacts from around the world) being carried over a large hole in the floor (a cargo hold). Ripley’s also wanted as much authenticity and historical accuracy in the display as possible, and requested that the conveyor have an old, rustic look and feel.

Once the design was worked out, several additional challenges presented themselves. First, the museum building itself was historic, with old brick interior walls and wooden beams. Installing heavy conveyor track and equipment had to been done in a way that would not damage the building walls or structures in any way. Another challenge was in getting the conveyor equipment delivered to the site which meant accessing the original road built in the 1830’s. This road is used for pedestrian tourist traffic only. It was technically not suitable for vehicles, least of all transport trucks. And of course accessing the building at all had to be done ‘after hours’ so as not to interfere with the constant flow of tourists in and around the area.

The Solution

Ripley’s animation team presented a 3D model of their concept. From this, PACLINE developed the conveyor design which involved a 3” I-Beam conveyor track and chain suspended above an opening in the third floor, with cargo netting below.

When it came to delivering the equipment without road access for large trucks, PACLINE installers decided to unload the I – BEAM components in batches and utilize a forklift to transport the conveyor equipment along the historic road up to the museum site. And, this was all carefully coordinated at a time of day when the complex was closed to visitors.

Once installed, PACLINE worked with Ripley’s to paint the track so that it would have the old, worn, rustic feel that Ripley’s wanted. This was taken a step further when Ripley’s painted the ceiling and supports black to make it seem as though the artifacts being carried were actually floating through the air.

Pacline Overhead Conveyors was called in recently to assist one of Santa’s helpers at the Hudson’s Bay Store in Toronto.

Each year the flagship store of the Bay at Queen and Yonge St. brings the magic of Christmas to their store windows. The Husdon’s Bay Christmas windows attract thousands of visitors (and shoppers) of all ages throughout the Christmas season.

Kevin Davies, President of House of Kevin was hired by the Bay to create his special magic in one of the 5 featured windows. Davies had an idea and the engineers at Pacline Conveyors helped put his magical idea into ‘motion’

Davies’ window design used a loop of the PAC-LINE™ enclosed track overhead conveyor to animate his display. The conveyor was custom painted green and is loaded with toys being brought into and out of Santa’s workshop.
We think this is how Santa really gets the job done! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!