New Britain Herald Newspaper, October 17, 1930, Page 6

Realtor Who Invented Miniature Golf Retires With Cool Half Million After Just 24 Months ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN | and herc's one of them, the origi- | nal miniature golf course that | Garnet Carter (right) started near Chattanooga just to give| summer hotel guests something to| do—and which led to an industry that brought him a half million | dollars, The bridge above is one | of the trick hazards on this course | and below is shown one of the gnomes that decorate the holes. Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct, Folks, met the man who x fature golf pay on a full He's Garnet Carter, 2 Chatta- nooga real estate developer, and he's just retired from the busi ness after having cleaned up cool halt million dollars wit iuvention that he says was an accident.” The other day, after making more than $300,000 on his “acci- dent” he sold the trade r “Tom Thumb” that cost him $100, a manufacturing plant valued at ¢ ¢ atur $10,000 and a number of patents| A ox'l’i‘hum applied for to W. H. Robinson of | my and o Philadelphia, a pickle manufac-| i ; ; turer, for $200,000 cash. | “How did I do it?” Carter plies. “T'll be hecked if I just stumbled into it seemed that the money pouring in before I knew kad happened. And it just kept coming.” 25,000 of Them Now Carter's Fai and Golf on Lookout Mountain near is the ori from which came the 25,000 that have since popped ur. like mushrooms all over the United States. On these the U. § Department of Commerce places an estimated value of §12 000, exclusive of the real cstate. From Oct. 20 to 22, this course will be the scene of the first na- tional Tom Thumb Golt tion tournament, with hundreds of | ated peewee golfers from all over the haa United States competing. At least that $7500 in cash will be offered prizes to men and women play Elimination tournaments been held in many citi 17 de min- an| *| conte to Chatt peti There tional cago, Asso; anyone may enter open tournament sponsored by in Te- The I know and it more laid historic W The holes Brownies and book feet ind placed mental pury Opened in e course for The story behind this the story of the ture golf, now played How It All Began Back dent of estate dev Lookout Mountain. under v rying with his enter he conceived the ing a clock golf course. to pick | ted come the com- will also be a $10,000 na- Chi- the National | Golf | thing here as large as any and is many | playground for children.” greens | qif- | stretched around ground | everyhody around the hotel was r bat- | playing. 1 26 to gnomes figures orna- | er are course birth of min »y millions. , Carter was presi- Fairyland Inn, a real lopment company situ- | a big golf cours was about half financed. Wor- e one day, dea of establish- | building one of Hwil-‘ NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1930. low logs and around rocks Tennessee. Realizing that he had some- thing that was more than just a fad, Carter wired back to his asso- ciates in Chattanooga to establish a factory at once and begin the manufacture of miniature golf courses. “Since then,” says Carter, been a whirlwind.” Inventor Sells Out A few weeks ago, while return- ing home from one of the com- pany's branch factorits in Roches- ter, Pa., Carter met Warren T. Godfroy, a bond expert who had been instrumental in getting the Lookout Mountain hotel bonds guaranteed. “How are asked Godfroy. “I'm making over $1000 in royalties,” Carter replied. “If you handled things right you'd be making 10 times that,” Godfroy observed. “I told Godfroy,” says Carter, “that 1 didn't want to be bur- dened too much and I had just been talking about consolidating all the different plants, since I had been offered about $1,000,000 worth of stock in such a consoli- dation.” Godfroy then asked Carter if he wanted to sell out. Carter dickered and finally offered the trade mark, manufacturing plant and patents applied for at $200,000. Godfroy then interested Robin- son. “They kidnaped me, brought me to Chattanooga in an auto and bought me out the very next day,” Carter explains. “The deal was soon closed.” Carter says W. 8. Townsend and his brother, of Rochester, Pa., have probably made even more money out of miniature golf than he has. Townsend, a big pump manufacturer, bought one course to be installed in Florida and then decided to go into the manufac- turing business. $100 Royalty in Each He was given the territory ECZEMA ALMOST UNBEARABLE Resinol Heals “Some time ago ecxema broke out on my leg. After weeks of special treatment during which time the itching and burning wasso severe I could hardly stand it, I was told nothing more could be done for me. A friend of mine urged me to try Resinol Ointment, which I did. I I am happy tl.i: say i‘;}\;‘alzd Zas my leg completely an: ave re money was taken in on the [ 2O PE SORD IRt oY B e He | golf course than in the hotel's ex-| My husband alse used Resinol for | clusive dining room. arash on his hands with the same The craze spread to Florida, & | excellent results. We are never miniature course being crected at| without it in our home."’ (Signed)— the Royal Palm hotel, Miami. It Mre. E. France, Pawtucket, R.I. |scon developed that people in| Atyourdruggists'. Forfree sample write rida liked to putt through hol- | Resinol, Dept. 48, Baltimore, Md. sewer pipes and as well as those in “I've you getting along?” a day putlicg greens around the many boulders and making hazards and | tunr: he explains, “Every- |body laughed and scoffed at the | idea. “My idea was to provide some- to do for the guests who want to play big golf or Some of my friends jok- inquired it 1 was building a didn’t is | dan ing east But Carter kept at it. He nis baby course to 18 holes. Almost before he knew it, 0 The about fame spread and inquiries cost of a baby golf n to drift in from oth- er was in the busi- e knew it. s Are Swift friend from Atlanta for £2000, installed made his money back week: ‘ Carter Prof A bought it and in three his amuse Lookout installed one for father, 1. Carter, to the nearby hotel. The first day guests at Mountain 177 MAIN STREET NewFall HATS Embodying the latest styles and copies of the higher priced Hats Some are tailored, others are trimmed with fur, feath- ers, pins. But each Hat worth much more COLORS Brown, Green, Wine, Red, Noble Lady, Blue, Gray and Black 99 23 Sizes 2115 to EXTRAORDINARY SALE $12.50, York, $;§g,75 All of our better Hats, formerly priced to in- cluding those we just received from N are on sale for Saturday only, at this low price. You will find something dif- ferent in these Hats MORE THAN CHIC! are these FINE KNIT and SHEER WOOL Dresses at $1 G50 These Dresses are so smart that, in order to be in style, you should have one in your wardrobe. Trimmed with fur, with tailored effect. The variety of colors $7.95 will enable you to select several. For Saturday --- a special group of our regular $10.95 Dresses. In all sizes. A large variety of colors. .. of the Rocky Mountains and north 0* the Mason-Dixon line to market miniature courses. On each one shipped, he agreed to pay Carter $100 royalty. “He shipped 1000 courses this year and has now gone into the indoor business," says Carter. “Before going into the deal, how- ever, he asked me if there wasn't some kind of a trick in it. I told him there must be, but I couldn’t find it. The courses -cost $1000, we sell them for $2000 and then get around the corner and laugh about how easy we made the thou- sand. But the fool who buys makes his $1000 back in the first two weeks and after that all is gravy.” Carter was born in 1883 and married in 1905. “I haven't any children,” he says,, “but I have the finest collie dog you ever saw. I'm crazy about my wife and dog and 'most everybody else. In fact, I think this is a wonderful world | to live in — and who wouldn't if they had stumbled on a darn fool | piece of luck like I did?” Lamb Gets Patent On Electric Device By GEORGE H. MANNING (Washington Bureau, N. B. Herald) ‘Washington, Oct. 17 — Joseph F. Lamb, of New Britain, has been awarded a patent for inventing an electrical cooking device. He as- signed his patent to Landers, Frary & Clark, New Britain. The invention is described by the patent office as “a pair of units of similar construction and each hav- ing a pair of heating plates and an electrical heating element between the plates and adapted to heat the same, and a hinge connection be- tween the said units arranged to permit said units to be inverted rela- tive to one another.” | officers will be installed. ning and tell of the plans of the national order for this winter. He will come here to assist the local aerie to put over the old-age pension plan that the order has been fight- ing for for several years. The nr- CHARITY PARTY Court Columba Plans Bridge to Be Held in November—Officers to Be | Installed. Plans for a big Christmas charity party, to be held in the Knights of Columbus hall, were perfected last night at the regular semi-monthly meeting of Court Columba, Catholic Daughters of America. The party will be held in November and will be a bridge event. Sixty tables will be in play. The committee in charge of the event consists of Mrs. James O'Brien, chairman, assisted by Mrs. Mary Mc- Guire, Mrs. James O'Leary, Miss Anna McBriarty, Mrs. John Hyland, Mrs. M. T. Kerwin, Mrs. John Tar- rant, Mrs. Frank Clark and Miss Mary Stack. At the next meeting of the court, on November 6, the recently elected On the same evening the annual Halloween party will be held, with three prizes, one for the best costume, one for the funniest costume and one for the best male impersonator. Eagles Back Democrats In Old Age Pension Plans for the opening of the new Hagles hall on Walnut street were discussed last night -at a special meeting of the building committee, and the committee will confer with the contractor between today and Sunday to see if the new lodge room can be used by the lodge on the first meeting night in November, or the 13th of the month. Announcement was made last night that Eddie Sheehan of Wash- ington D. C., will be present at the regular meeting next Thursday eve- ENGLISH CLUB CHAIRS In a variety of coverings. GOVERNOR WINTHROP DESK Fine quality and excellent con- struction. Built of mahogany and other fine woods. “DUNCAN PHYFE” 9 PIECE COLONIAL DINING ROOM SUITE A suite you will always be Host Chair. Ask RADIOS Emerson Balkeit, First National. Selectivity-tone, Guaranteed. 89¢ Complete 3 PIECE LIVING ROOM SUITES $95.00 5 proud of. Consists of China, Buffet, Extension Table, 5 to see our “Sheraton” and “Duncan Phyfe” Suites Cedar Chests Why wait? Select your chest now. Small deposit will hold it. Many different styles to select from. $8.95 P IRNBAUM’ FURNITURE STORE 381-385 MAIN STREET Long Established Reputation der is behind the democratic can- didates for state office in Connecti- cut this fall because the ‘democratic party has taken up cudgels in be- half of the old-age pension idea. DOUBLE DA-BEDS A marvelous bed value. Opens to full size bed. Chairs and$ Formerly $298.00 Simmons Metal Bed V4 A wonderful variety of Simmons Beddings, in a wide range of prices. 4 PIECE BEDROOM SUITES £ $89.00,,