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The Zamboni Trivia Quiz

The siren sounds and the teams head for the locker rooms. It's time for you to clear the ice. Many fans head for the vending area, but many stay to watch you. How much do you know about the origin and operation of the ice resurfacer?

A multiple-choice quiz by sidnobls. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
sidnobls

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
281,883

Updated
Jan 25 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
553

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Zamboni, the famous ice rink resurfacing machine, comes originally from where? Hint

Ontario

Sicily

Michigan

California

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Question 2 of 10

2. The man who developed the Zamboni gave the machine its name. Who was the inventor of the Zamboni as we know it? Hint

Enzo P. Zamboni

Marco Zamboni

Joseph M. Zamboni

Frank J. Zamboni

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who said "There are three things in life that people like to stare at: a flowing stream, a crackling fire, and a Zamboni clearing the ice"? Hint

Charlie Chaplin

Walter Cronkite

Walter Brown

Charlie Brown

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Question 4 of 10

4. The first successful resurfacer was patented in what year? Hint

1946

1950

1953

1949

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Question 5 of 10

5. What supplied the chassis for the Zamboni prototype? Hint

Douglas A-20 bomber

Ford Model A

Surplus army jeep

Massey Ferguson tractor

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Question 6 of 10

6. The oldest existing Zamboni is Model A, fully restored and on permanent display where? Hint

The Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC

The Boston Garden, Boston, MA

The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Eveleth, MN

Paramount, Iceland, CA

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Question 7 of 10

7. In addition to laying new water for freezing, the Zamboni also uses water for what other purpose?

Hint

to wash the ice

to cool the engine

to melt the shavings

all are correct

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which manufacturer has never provided engines for any production model of Zamboni? Hint

CAT

Nissan

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Question 9 of 10

9. Zamboni never stopped inventing and receiving patents until his death in 1988. What other tasks are accomplished by Zamboni's machines? Hint

picking up and laying down artificial turf

all are correct

removing painted field stripes

vacuuming 400 gal./pm from playing fields

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Question 10 of 10

10. Despite owning so many patents, many other companies manufacture ice resurfacers remarkably similar to Zamboni's machine. What company is Zamboni's greatest competitor in North America? Hint

Olympia of Canada

Z�ko of Switzerland

Fuji of Japan

Icecat/UKKO of Finland

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Zamboni, the famous ice rink resurfacing machine, comes originally from where?

Answer: California

The Zamboni was developed by a skating rink owner in Paramount, California. Before the use of the Zamboni, resurfacing the ice took as many as 10 men over an hour using a fire hose, scrapers and squeegees. Technology improved the quality of the surface, improving dramatically the level of performance by hockey players and figure skaters.

The technology was embraced immediately by professional figure skaters, and much later by hockey clubs.

2. The man who developed the Zamboni gave the machine its name. Who was the inventor of the Zamboni as we know it?

Answer: Frank J. Zamboni

Frank J. Zamboni built the Iceland Skating Rink in Paramount, California after a successful career in mechanics and refrigeration. He passed away in 1988, but the machines bearing his name continue to be manufactured just down the street from his ice rink, which is still operating. Zamboni sought to name his enterprise The Paramount Engineering Company, after his home town, but the name was already in use. Zamboni named the company after himself, confident in the uniqueness of the name.

3. Who said "There are three things in life that people like to stare at: a flowing stream, a crackling fire, and a Zamboni clearing the ice"?

Answer: Charlie Brown

The quote was from the 1980 cartoon special "She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown". Creator Charles Schultz was an avid hockey player and fan of the then California Golden Seals of the NHL. A Zamboni can completely resurface a standard sized hockey surface in about 10 minutes.

4. The first successful resurfacer was patented in what year?

Answer: 1949

After several attempts, and after having made several corrections including adaptations to the power train, water capacity and snow capacity, the first consistently successful machine was ready for patenting in 1949. While none of the processes was original, the novel combination of already existing sciences and technologies to perform a much needed task was recognized by the U.S. Patent Office as being worthy of protection.

5. What supplied the chassis for the Zamboni prototype?

Answer: Surplus army jeep

The new machine was a true hybrid. It contained an engine and power train from surplus war equipment, had a tractor seat, and included a hydraulic system stripped from an A-20 bomber. Zamboni called his prototype Model A - but that was the extent of any connection to Ford's old workhorse.

6. The oldest existing Zamboni is Model A, fully restored and on permanent display where?

Answer: Paramount, Iceland, CA

In addition, #4 is on disply at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Eveleth, MN. After touring the country with the original Ice Capades, this machine was sold to a series of rinks in New Mexico, and now is owned by the Zamboni company and on display in Minnesota.

7. In addition to laying new water for freezing, the Zamboni also uses water for what other purpose?

Answer: to wash the ice

Washing the ice removes foreign particles, fills in ruts and leaves a greatly improved ice surface. Shavings are dumped from a hydraulic tip tank, not melted. Some models of Zambonis have water cooled engines, but not all. For a time, air cooled engines were stock.

8. Which manufacturer has never provided engines for any production model of Zamboni?

Answer: CAT

Zamboni's have featured a large variety of engines over the years, from Volkswagen Industrial engines to Japanese makes, to GM.

9. Zamboni never stopped inventing and receiving patents until his death in 1988. What other tasks are accomplished by Zamboni's machines?

Answer: all are correct

The patents are now owned by the Frank J. Zamboni Company, operated by his son and grandson in Paramount, CA and Brantford, Ont.

10. Despite owning so many patents, many other companies manufacture ice resurfacers remarkably similar to Zamboni's machine. What company is Zamboni's greatest competitor in North America?

Answer: Olympia of Canada

In their first 50 years, Zamboni sold 8,500 units to everybody from figure skater Sonja Henie to NHL hockey teams to Olympic venues. Despite "Zamboni" having become synonymous with ice resurfacers, the company have trademarked their name, and insist that the generic term "ice resurfacer" be used by all competitors.

Source: Author sidnobls

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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