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Hemed Areas
Miller (born August John Mueller; 1872 – June 24, 1941) was an American roller
coaster designer and builder, inventor, and businessman. Miller patented over 100 key roller coaster
components, and is widely considered the "father of the modern high-speed roller coaster." Dur-
[1] [2]
ing his lifetime, he participated in the design of approximately 150 coasters and was a key business
[3]
partner and mentor to other well-known roller coaster designers, Harry C. Baker and John C. Allen.
Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Miller was born in Homewood, Illinois and worked as a coaster builder at a very early age. At the [2]
age of 19, he started working with La Marcus Thompson and went on to serve as Thompson's chief
engineer. By 1911, he was working as a consultant to the Philadelphia Toboggan Company He
[2] [4]
also worked with noted designers Frederick Ingersoll and Fred and Josiah Pearce. [5]
Miller in 1910 designed a device that prevented cars from rolling backward down the lift hill in the
event of pull chain breakage. It attached to the track and clicked onto the rungs of the chain. Known
as the safety chain dog, or safety ratchet, it evolved into the device on the underside of cars that
makes that distinctive clinkety-clank sound of wooden coasters.
"upstop wheel," which consisted of a wheel that ran under the track to keep the coaster cars from
flying off. This allowed the designers to use very steep drops, sharp horizontal and vertical curves
and high speeds. These are found on nearly every roller coaster in operation.
[1] [5]
Miller & Baker built other types of amusement rides and structures as well. In addition to coasters,
the firm constructed mill chutes, and domed roof buildings for carousels and dance pavilions. [7]
Roller coasters[edit]
During his lifetime, Miller designed or contributed to the design of approximately 150 roller coast-
ers.[3]
Beach Coaster Ocean View Pavilion Amusement Park Jacksonville, FL 1928 1949[b] [17]