PTC Presidents

Henry B. Auchly - Founder and President - 1904 to 1922

Prior to founding The Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1903 in Germantown, Pennsylvania with Chester E. Albright, Henry B. Auchy, 38, was a liquor and produce distributor as well as an owner of a huge area in Chestnut Hill Park, just north of Philadelphia. In 1899, Auchy formed The Philadelphia Carousel Company with partner Louis Berni. The first carousel produced by them was placed in Auchy's park.

PTC's primary business was the production of roller coasters, thus the "Toboggan" name. The first few PTC carousels were actually produced under contract with E. Joy Morris, a Philadelphia designer and inventor of amusement rides.

During the early PTC years, Auchy leased a number of carousels to parks. Throughout their carousel producing years, 1903-1930, they leased and sold carousels, most made by them and some originally produced by other companies and rebuilt by PTC.

The PTC archives list 90 carousels, however it is thought that about 83 were PTC originals. The remaining number appear to represent machines which were redesigned, rebuilt or redesigned and rebuilt with a sequenced PTC number.

The Philadelphia Toboggan Company began numbering the center poles of their carousels in about 1907. This feature has made PTC Carousels the easiest to trace. PTC hired German immigrant carvers who produced beautifully carved horses and animals. A few of those carvers went on to start their own carousel companies or to work in other carousel shops. Some of the well-known carvers at PTC were Daniel Muller, Frank Caretta, Leo Zoller, Charles Carmel, Salvatore Cernigliano and John Zalar.

As the head carvers or lead carvers changed, so did the appearance and sales of the PTC Carousels. The company's catalog demonstrated numerous models and sizes with a variance in price. Some designs, like the portable machines were fairly simple, others were extremely elaborate and ornate. Three to five row machines were produced.

Henry passed away in September 1922 and PTC ceased the production of carousels in 1930. They sold the last one they owned and operated to Cedar Point Park in Sandusky, Ohio in 1960.

Herbert P. Schmeck - President from 1922 to 1954

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John C. Allen - President from 1954 to 1971

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Sam High III - President from 1971 to 1991

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Thomas D. Rebbie - President from 1991 to Present

Thomas D. Rebbie joined the company in 1977 and moved on to be the General Manager in 1985 under the direction of Sam High III. In November 1991 Mr. Rebbie and a partner purchased the company from Mr. High and changed the name to Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Incorporated.

Tom assumed the position of President/CEO. Then in March 2008, Tom became the sole owner of PTCI.