Millheim author releases new book

MILLHEIM — Ralph Gray, a retired math teacher turned author from Millheim, has released his newest book, “The Wizard of Centre Hall: The Life and Times of Vernon H. Garbrick.”

The book chronicles the history of Garbrick and his family, who manufactured amusement rides in their Centre Hall factory for more than 40 years. It is filled with anecdotes and vintage photos culled from the Garbrick family.

Gray said writing the book was suggested to him by Garbrick’s daughter, Shirley Dann, after she presented a program of Garbrick’s corporate history at one of the museum’s history dinners.

Vernon, Lewis and Lester Garbrick were brothers known for their mechanical ingenuity long before going into the amusement ride business. In 1921, Lewis and Lester built a snowmobile that was powered aircraft-style by a high-mounted engine in the rear with a hand-carved, 5-foot-long propeller.

In 1925, Lester designed and built his own airplane, a 28-foot wingspan biplane named “The Lark,” and often flew it across the valley, courting his future wife, Edna Cummings. The plane was still seen flying as late as 1968.

Vernon operated a welding shop in Centre Hall in the 1930s. During World War II, his company earned a contract from the New Holland Machine Company to manufacture sawbucks, cement mixers and farm wagons.

After the war, Vernon went into the carnival ride business with an airplane ride he built, which featured four child-sized, two-seat open cockpit planes which traveled in circles, tethered to a central pylon. The ride was a success on the carnival circuit and inspired the Garbricks to build more complicated rides.

Vernon Garbrick’s most innovative design was the folding Ferris wheel, which was inspired by the design of portable well drilling rigs. In 1960, he obtained a patent on the design, which made setup and tear-down of the rides much easier and quicker, and safer than previous ground-mounted designs.

The 55-feet-high wheel, with 16 seats, could be set up in less than one hour by just three workers, none of which had to do any risky climbing on the structure. The engine which powered the ride also served as a hoist to erect the two 28-feet-high main support towers for the wheel. The wheel’s spokes were unfolded as the wheel was slowly rotated by the engine, and seats were attached at ground level. It was an ingenious design which revolutionized the amusement ride business.

“He sold those Ferris wheels for $20,000 each,” said Gray. “That was a lot of money back then.” Vernon Garbrick held a total of 18 patents related to the Garbrick designs. He passed away in 1987 at the age of 79.

Garbrick rides have been sold all over America and worldwide over several decades, and have become a staple of fairs and carnivals throughout Pennsylvania. The rides made their first Grange Fair appearance in 1955, and are still operated there each year, delighting third and fourth generations of fairgoers.

Liability concerns forced the Garbricks to stop manufacturing rides in the 1980s. Since then, the company has subsisted by repairing and maintaining the rides they sold in previous years. The employees travel extensively around the country to maintain their rides, and they often fabricate replacement parts for them.

Gray’s book is available online for $12, but will be sold at the 2016 Grange Fair for $10 at the Penns Valley Historical Museum booth in Building 12, with all proceeds going to the museum.