| The Ice |
| Once the ice is made, the ongoing task of maintaining the quality of the ice becomes Bruce Tharaldson's primary focus. One of the essential tools for helping maintain the ice is the Zamboni. This mechanical marvel was first built in the early 1940s in southern California (of all places). Frank Zamboni and his brother Lawrence needed a more efficient way to resurface their large ice rink, "Iceland." Up to that time, one would have to drag a scraper behind a tractor to smooth the surface and then go back and coat the ice with a thin layer of water to even things out and rebuild the thickness of the ice. This process could take over one hour! Frank Zamboni, an inexaustable inventor, made the process much quicker with his newly invented "Zamboni ice resurfacer." |
| Zamboni'z |
| The Zamboni is a mechanical ice resurfacer. It works by scraping the ice surface and collecting the snow (which is later discarded). Next, it "cleans" the ice, by putting down water which flushes the grooves deep in the ice, loosening any dirt or debris. The excess water and dirt is then collected. Finally, the Zamboni puts down a thin layer of heated water--which freezes and creates a smooth surface. The heated water, according to Tharaldson, is about 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (60-63 centigrade); "the hotter the water," he says, "the more even a surface you'll get--it melts that top layer when you cut across [the ice]." |
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| The First Zamboni! |