Murray-Latta
Encyclopedia
The Murray-Latta Machine Company is a British Columbia
n machine manufacturing and steel fabrication
company. In the 1960s and 1970s, they built a number of chairlifts, mainly in British Columbia
. Although they no longer design or fabricate chairlifts, they still provide parts and act as contractors for constructing new lifts designed by other manufacturers.
The main reason Murray-Latta entered the skilift market in the first place can be attributed to Premier W. A. C. Bennett, who promoted British Columbian business. Using a British Columbian company to construct chairlifts at the government-owned ski areas at Cypress Mountain
, Mount Seymour
, and Manning Park (Gibson Pass) was a natural choice.
The company also built lifts outside British Columbia at the Mount Baker Ski Area
(WA), Hyak ski area (now known as Summit East) on Snoqualmie Pass
, Washington, and Jackson Hole
, Wyoming
.
The most notable design aspect of Murray-Latta chairlifts is the way the cable carrying the loaded chairs can sometimes sag as much as 10 feet below the unloaded cable during long gaps between support towers.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
n machine manufacturing and steel fabrication
Fabrication (metal)
Fabrication as an industrial term refers to building metal structures by cutting, bending, and assembling. The cutting part of fabrication is via sawing, shearing, or chiseling ; torching with handheld torches ; and via CNC cutters...
company. In the 1960s and 1970s, they built a number of chairlifts, mainly in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Although they no longer design or fabricate chairlifts, they still provide parts and act as contractors for constructing new lifts designed by other manufacturers.
Cypress Mountain
- External links :* *...
, Mount Seymour
Mount Seymour
Mount Seymour is a mountain located in Mount Seymour Provincial Park in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia. It is a part of the North Shore Mountains, rising to the north from the shores of Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm to a summit of above the Indian River and Deep Cove neighbourhoods...
, and Manning Park (Gibson Pass) was a natural choice.
The company also built lifts outside British Columbia at the Mount Baker Ski Area
Mount Baker Ski Area
Mt. Baker Ski Area is a ski resort located in Whatcom County, Washington, United States at the end of State Route 542. The base elevation is at 3,500 feet , while the peak of the resort is at 5,089 feet ....
(WA), Hyak ski area (now known as Summit East) on Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass is a mountain pass that carries Interstate 90 through the Cascade Range in the U.S. State of Washington. The elevation of the pass summit is , and is on the county line between Kittitas County and King County...
, Washington, and Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole, originally called Jackson's Hole, is a valley located in the U.S. state of Wyoming, near the western border with Idaho. The name "hole" derives from language used by early trappers or mountain men, who primarily entered the valley from the north and east and had to descend along...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.
The most notable design aspect of Murray-Latta chairlifts is the way the cable carrying the loaded chairs can sometimes sag as much as 10 feet below the unloaded cable during long gaps between support towers.