That is 1 of 7 'Ringer' Double Swivel chairlifts built in the early 1950's by Karl Ringer out of Southern California. He also built a short-lived detachable double at the same time that was closed shortly after completion due to a fatal accident.
Tom- the design was not to save wood. The chair had a spring mechanism in the outside down tube that would cause the seats to swing back and rotate 90 degrees to let the chair pass by as the skiers stood still on the unload ramp.
Here's the concept-
and here's the chair in operation-
(I used to use this picture as my profile picture long ago. Love the 'lift operator' in the WWII bomber great coat!)
