An Electrifying Experience

Much like the work we did at Radio City Music Hall, James Thomas Engineering recently had the opportunity to work alongside Pook Diemont &Ohl, Inc. on another exciting project. In fact, it was downright electrifying!

For those of you who are unfamiliar, David Blaine is an accomplished and admired American illusionist and endurance artist. Some of his most notable stunts include surviving 63 hours inside a block of ice, spending 7 days and 7 nights in a water-filled sphere and lasting six weeks without food while being suspended over the Thames River in a glass box. However, it was his latest performance that had people all over the world standing on edge, and we were honored to have contributed to it!

On Saturday, October 6, 2012 on a pier in Hudson River Park in New York City, David Blaine took it to the next level by performing a stunt called, “Electrified”.  While standing on a 20-foot-high pillar for 72 hours straight, without food or sleep, Blaine endured a million volts of electricity traveling around his body through numerous Tesla coils. The structure that both surrounded Blaine and supported these coils was built right here at James Thomas Engineering by our expert truss manufacturers. 

After climbing the trusses and positioning himself at the center of the structure, millions of people watched as David Blaine tempted fate yet again. Witnessing an event such as this was priceless in and of itself, but knowing that James Thomas Engineering was able to be a part of it is what makes it truly unforgettable!

There’s Still Time!

A couple of weeks ago we let you all know that James Thomas Engineering would be present at the 25^th Live Design International in Las Vegas, Nevada. Well the weekend is finally upon us and it’s not too late to make arrangements to come out and see us!

Once again, the event will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from Friday, October 19 until Sunday, October 21, 2012. You can find James Thomas Engineering at Booth 507, located just to the left of the main entrance! We will be waiting for you there to participate in face-to-face discussions about our equipment and any of your upcoming needs.

Also be sure to show your support for James Thomas Engineering President, Tray Allen on Saturday, October 20^th as he serves on the panel for “Temporary Structures: ProductionBasics for the Human User” in Room N241 from 1:30PM - 3:00PM. The discussion is sure to be extremely informative so don’t miss out!

The Live Design International is an event that is highly anticipated every year and we’re very excited that we have the opportunity to continuously be a part of it. We hope to see you all this weekend at Booth 507!

Every Truss is in Need of Proper Support

You could have an expertly designed and manufactured truss but it won’t really matter unless you have the proper support. A support tower system from James Thomas Engineering is integral to your super truss system and it is very important for you to know which tower is right for your system.

With our company, you will have four towers to choose from: our baby tower, the 12’ x 12’ tower, the 12’ x 15’ tower, and the 20.5’ x 20.5’ super tower. Each of our ground support towers are capable of supporting between 2,000 pounds or over 4 tons, depending on which one you choose.

The way that a baby tower from James Thomas Engineering is made is to provide an adjustable height to suit your requirements. It is capable of lifting loads up to 2000 pounds to a maximum height of 26’ in a 4 tower configuration, 18’ in a 2 tower configuration with the outrigger section fitted or 14’ as a single tower with the outrigger arms and section fitted.

On the other hand, our larger support tower systems serve as lifting mediums for a variety of Thomas trusses from 20.5’ x 20.5’, heavy duty, supertruss and pre-rig truss through to roof systems. They can reach a maximum height of 40’ using our 15’ tower and over 60’ with the 20.5’ support tower. These larger ground support towers are ideal for lifting heavy pre-rigged trusses and roof trusses.

Ground support systems manufactured by James Thomas Engineering are capable of accommodating the strictest of demands from the entertainment industry. Regardless of size or necessity, we are certain that you will find the tower you need right here. If you have any questions or are in need of more information, please contact us today, as we’d be more than happy to help!

Mark Your Calendars!

We’re so excited about the first annual James Thomas Engineering Rigging Experience that we’ve decided to start spreading the word early! The event is to take place from Tuesday, February 26 to Saturday, March 2, 2013 in the beautiful downtown area of Knoxville, TN and trust us when we say, it’s an event that you won’t want to miss!

During the Rigging Experience, Pro Video Audio Products of Monticello, KY will be providing us with a roof system that will be setup inside the Knoxville Convention Center. We will then rely on our panel of experts to walk us through the inner workings of the setup. Included in this incredible lineup of engineers, designers and rigging professionals, will be Technical Director of the Penn State University School of Theatre and ETCP Certified Rigger, Eric Rouse, as well as Jeff Reder of Clark Reder Engineering. While Rouse will be giving instructions on rigging and rigging safety, Jeff Reder will educate us on the engineering of the roofs and outdoor structures. Additionally, as a representative of James Thomas Engineering, our very own Scott John will be responsible for giving instructions on trussing and roof setups.

 Though we are months away from the big event, the James Thomas Engineering Rigging Experience is already shaping up to be one of the premier truss, rigging and roof system seminars in the country. Be sure to mark your calendars early and stay tuned for more information on this terrific opportunity!