Garfield Wood
Encyclopedia
Garfield ‘Gar’ Arthur Wood (December 4, 1880 – June 19, 1971) was an American inventor, entrepreneur
, motorboat
builder and racer who held the world water speed record
on several occasions. He was the first man to travel over 100 miles per hour on water.
to a family of 13 children. His father was a ferryboat operator on Lake Osakis
, Minnesota, and Gar worked on boats from an early age. In 1911 at 31, he invented a hydraulic lift for unloading coal from rail trucks. He established the Wood Hoist Co. in Detroit and soon became a successful businessman. Later he changed the company name to Garwood Industries, which built racing boats, but also capitalized on experience with coal unloaders to successfully produce and market GarWood truck bodies.
speed for a boat, (74.870 mph) in 1920 on the Detroit River
, using a new boat called Miss America. In the following twelve years, Wood built four more Miss Americas and broke the record five times, raising it to 124.860 mph (200.9 kmp) in 1932 on the St. Clair River
.
In 1921, Wood raced one of his boats against the Havana Special train, 1250 miles up the Atlantic coast from Miami to New York City
. Wood made the trip in 47 hours and 23 minutes and beat the train by 12 minutes. In 1925, he raced the Twentieth Century Limited train up the Hudson River
between Albany
and New York and won by 22 minutes.
As well as being a record breaker and showman, Wood won five straight powerboat Gold Cup
races between 1917 and 1921. Wood also won the prestigious Harmsworth Trophy nine times (1920–21, 1926, 1928–30, 1932–33).
In 1931, he lost the Trophy in dramatic circumstances to his younger brother George. The race was held on the Detroit River and was billed as a match race between the Wood brothers and English (sic) racing driver and record-breaker Kaye Don
, driving Miss England II
. Before an estimated crowd of over a million spectators (one of the largest crowds for a sporting event ever), Don won the first heat of the race. In the second heat, Wood was leading Don, when Miss England II suddenly flipped over rounding one of the turns, fortunately without injury to Don and his co-driver. Gar Wood finished the race first, but both he and Don were disqualified because they had jumped the starter's gun by seven seconds. George Wood completed the final race to win the trophy.
, and were an OEM
supplier to both the civilian and military market. Many trucks built during World War II
came equipped with Garwood bodies and winches. One of the biggest contributions by Garwood Industries was the development of the now-ubiquitous garbage truck, which was originally built and sold under the name Garwood Load Packer
.
which enabled his inspection boat to outrace the other inspectors. At one point he had a job selling lightning rods to farmers and, to demonstrate their effectiveness he invented an induction coil
device to mimic lightning. In the 1930s he designed a launch for the US Navy and demonstrated it for Franklin D. Roosevelt
, but the Navy turned it down. The design was the forerunner of the PT boat
.
's Biscayne Bay
) and was the last of a series of millionaires to occupy it as a one-family island retreat, eventually selling it to a development group in 1963. He also had a summer retreat in McGregor Bay, Ontario.
A 1967 Popular Mechanics article showed even in retirement Gar Woods was still active inventing an Electric Vehicle (EV) controller which he used in the EV he built.
He died in Miami
at the age of 90 in 1971, days before the 50th anniversary of his first Harmsworth win. Upon Wood's death, George Van of The Detroit News
wrote: “To the public, he was Tom Swift
, Jules Verne
, Frank Merriwell
with a little bit of Horatio Alger thrown in.”
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, motorboat
Motorboat
A motorboat is a boat which is powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gearbox and the propeller in one portable unit.An inboard/outboard contains a hybrid of a...
builder and racer who held the world water speed record
Water speed record
The World Unlimited water speed record is the officially recognised fastest speed achieved by a water-borne vehicle. The current record of 511 km/h was achieved in 1978....
on several occasions. He was the first man to travel over 100 miles per hour on water.
Early life
Gar Wood was born on 4 December 1880 in Mapleton, IowaMapleton, Iowa
Mapleton is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,416 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mapleton is located at...
to a family of 13 children. His father was a ferryboat operator on Lake Osakis
Lake Osakis
Lake Osakis is a lake in Todd and Douglas counties in west-central Minnesota. The town of Osakis is situated on the southwest shore of the lake.-Name:...
, Minnesota, and Gar worked on boats from an early age. In 1911 at 31, he invented a hydraulic lift for unloading coal from rail trucks. He established the Wood Hoist Co. in Detroit and soon became a successful businessman. Later he changed the company name to Garwood Industries, which built racing boats, but also capitalized on experience with coal unloaders to successfully produce and market GarWood truck bodies.
Racing career
In 1916, Wood purchased a motorboat for racing called Miss Detroit. Wood set a new world recordWorld record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
speed for a boat, (74.870 mph) in 1920 on the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
, using a new boat called Miss America. In the following twelve years, Wood built four more Miss Americas and broke the record five times, raising it to 124.860 mph (200.9 kmp) in 1932 on the St. Clair River
St. Clair River
The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...
.
In 1921, Wood raced one of his boats against the Havana Special train, 1250 miles up the Atlantic coast from Miami to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Wood made the trip in 47 hours and 23 minutes and beat the train by 12 minutes. In 1925, he raced the Twentieth Century Limited train up the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
between Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and New York and won by 22 minutes.
As well as being a record breaker and showman, Wood won five straight powerboat Gold Cup
Gold Cup (motorsport)
The APBA Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the Gold Cup, is a hydroplane boat race and is the second official race of the 2010 H1 Unlimited season. The race is scheduled to be held July 9–11, 2010 on the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
races between 1917 and 1921. Wood also won the prestigious Harmsworth Trophy nine times (1920–21, 1926, 1928–30, 1932–33).
In 1931, he lost the Trophy in dramatic circumstances to his younger brother George. The race was held on the Detroit River and was billed as a match race between the Wood brothers and English (sic) racing driver and record-breaker Kaye Don
Kaye Don
Kaye Don was a world record breaking car and speedboat racer who became a motorcycle dealer on his retirement from road racing and set up Ambassador Motorcycles.-Biography:...
, driving Miss England II
Miss England II
Miss England II was the name of the second of a series of speedboats used by Henry Segrave and Kaye Don to contest world water speed records in the 1920s and 1930s.- Design and construction :...
. Before an estimated crowd of over a million spectators (one of the largest crowds for a sporting event ever), Don won the first heat of the race. In the second heat, Wood was leading Don, when Miss England II suddenly flipped over rounding one of the turns, fortunately without injury to Don and his co-driver. Gar Wood finished the race first, but both he and Don were disqualified because they had jumped the starter's gun by seven seconds. George Wood completed the final race to win the trophy.
Later business career
Wood retired from racing in 1933 to concentrate on his businesses. Garwood Industries continued to build wooden racing boats until 1947. Garwood Industries also built truck bodies and winches that were used extensively by truck manufacturers such as International HarvesterInternational Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
, and were an OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
supplier to both the civilian and military market. Many trucks built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
came equipped with Garwood bodies and winches. One of the biggest contributions by Garwood Industries was the development of the now-ubiquitous garbage truck, which was originally built and sold under the name Garwood Load Packer
Garwood Load Packer
Garwood Industries revolutionized the garbage collection industry with the Load Packer. It was introduced in 1938, but significant numbers weren't manufactured until after World War II. By 1949, over 2500 of these trucks were in use in cities and towns across the United States and Canada...
.
Inventive activities
Wood was known as an inventive genius who, at one point, held more US patents than any other living American. In addition to the profitable hydraulic hoist for dump trucks, at age 17 he invented a downdraft carburetorCarburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
which enabled his inspection boat to outrace the other inspectors. At one point he had a job selling lightning rods to farmers and, to demonstrate their effectiveness he invented an induction coil
Induction coil
An induction coil or "spark coil" is a type of disruptive discharge coil. It is a type of electrical transformer used to produce high-voltage pulses from a low-voltage direct current supply...
device to mimic lightning. In the 1930s he designed a launch for the US Navy and demonstrated it for Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, but the Navy turned it down. The design was the forerunner of the PT boat
PT boat
PT Boats were a variety of motor torpedo boat , a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships. The PT boat squadrons were nicknamed "the mosquito fleet". The Japanese called them "Devil Boats".The original pre–World War I torpedo boats were...
.
Retirement and death
In the 1950s, he acquired Fisher Island (located in South FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
's Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay is a lagoon that is approximately 35 miles long and up to 8 miles wide located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida, United States. It is usually divided for purposes of discussion and analysis into three parts: North Bay, Central Bay, and South Bay. Its area is...
) and was the last of a series of millionaires to occupy it as a one-family island retreat, eventually selling it to a development group in 1963. He also had a summer retreat in McGregor Bay, Ontario.
A 1967 Popular Mechanics article showed even in retirement Gar Woods was still active inventing an Electric Vehicle (EV) controller which he used in the EV he built.
He died in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
at the age of 90 in 1971, days before the 50th anniversary of his first Harmsworth win. Upon Wood's death, George Van of The Detroit News
The Detroit News
The Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
wrote: “To the public, he was Tom Swift
Tom Swift
Tom Swift is the name of the central character in five series of books, first appearing in 1910, totaling over 100 volumes, of American juvenile science fiction and adventure novels that emphasize science, invention and technology. The character was created by Edward Stratemeyer, the founder of...
, Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
, Frank Merriwell
Frank Merriwell
Frank Merriwell is a fictional character appearing in a series of novels and short stories by Gilbert Patten, who wrote under the pseudonym Burt L. Standish...
with a little bit of Horatio Alger thrown in.”
External links
- 1929 28' "Baby Gar" Antique Boat
- "The Speediest Craft Afloat", June 1929, Popular Science
- "The Gadget King of America" Popular Mechanics, October 1934, pp 536-539
- "Gar Wood's Mystery Boat" Popular Mechanics, September 1935 Miss America X
- Detroit News retrospective
- Gar Wood Boats
- Garfield (Gar) Wood
- 1967 July Popular Mechanics article on Gar Wood's Electric Vehicle (EV) pages=82–85