Eli Ferris Wheel

Anyone know how old the Eli 16 at Wyondotte Lake dba/Gooding Amusement Park? I was told when Premeir owned the park it was a 1927 model. However I have a book from Eli Bridge showing F.E. Gooding on April 15, 1952 being congradulated for purchasing the Big Eli #1000 wheel. Gooding had many wheels for his shows, but I don't think he traveled with this one.whatdoyathink?

Nope but since on the subject was the guy who invented the Ferris Wheel, George Ferris or John Ferris?
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At least I dont call a vertical loop a "loopdie-loop"!

What do I think? Well, there aren't too many flat rides still operating from the 20s. I'd bet the one they have is as you mentioned from the 50s. When did he stop touring?

Edit: Remember Idora, it was George Ferris.

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*** This post was edited by bigkirby on 4/1/2002. ***

Bill, I also have that book...

Wyandot Lake has a 16-seat Aristocrat wheel. So far I have not been able to find a serial number plate anywhere on that ride to indicate which ride it is. Wyandot Lake doesn't seem to know much about any of their rides (they didn't even manage to spell Mangels' name correctly on their old carousel, even though I pointed out to them a nameplate on one of the sweeps...) and so I'd take any details they give you about their rides with the proverbial shaker of salt.

The fact remains that we have an Aristocrat wheel which belonged to the Columbus Zoo Amusement Park, which was operated by Floyd Gooding. And we have a photograph of Floyd Gooding taking delivery of Aristocrat Wheel #1000 in 1952.

The evidence is all circumstantial, but it's better evidence than Wyandot Lake has so far been able to produce for their claim that it is an older wheel.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

*** This post was edited by RideMan on 4/1/2002. ***

George Ferris invented the ferris wheel for the Chicago exhibition or Worlds fair. I beleive it in 1894 but I might be wrong. He was from Galesburg, IL which is right by where I live and was also the home town of Carl Sandburg. Just a little tid bit of information for you.

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Mike
Favorite Wood: Viper at SFGAM,Shivering Timbers
Favorie Steel: Magnum and Raging Bull

Having worked for Floyd Gooding briefly, I can tell you his shows ( up to twelve of them) could have any of the wheels offered by Eli Bridge. Yes, they traveled #16 wheels,not just the #5 or #12, which is something that most shows wouldn't even think of let alone do. These were ground mount rides, no trailer mounted stuff either.

For every standard ride ( i.e. Ferris Wheels, merry-go-rounds, etc) he had out on the road, there was more than likely a back up in winter quarters in Columbus. He also owned 25 band organs, 24 of them being Wurlitzers, the 25th one being a large Ruth & Sohn model 36 used with the big unit.

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RememberIdora said:
" was the guy who invented the Ferris Wheel, George Ferris or John Ferris?"

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I thought it was Ferris Bueler....

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Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02

George Washington Gale Ferris really didn't INVENT the Ferris Wheel. Prior to his 250' masterpiece, carnivals, parks and fairs had scores of what where then known as "Pleasure Wheels"

Ferris was a bridge builder, so when he decided to build a large wheel for the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago back in 1893, they were still known as "Pleasure Wheels"

By the time the ride opened to thousands of happy patrons, they all began to call that paticular ride "The Ferris Wheel" So, by tradition, over 100 years later, we still refer to those rides as "Ferris Wheels"