Finescrollsaw

008 - Ferris wheel

In 1893 a World's exhibition was celebrated in Chicago to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus departure from Spain in his sail to America. The Ferris Wheel was the engineering landmark of the exposition, just like the Eiffel Tower had been the landmark of the Paris exposition four years before, in 1889.

The Ferris Wheel was conceived by engineer George W. Ferris. Its proportions were stunning: a Wheel with a diameter of 250 feet (82 meters) holding 36 wooden cabins for 60 people each (that's 2160 people at full load!). The entertaining concept of the Ferris Wheel was a huge success and from that time on a large number of Ferris wheels have been erected throughout the whole world.

This picture has been kindly sent by Hans Semper from the Netherlands. Note that the fence in the floor is not included in the pattern.

The scroll saw pattern I present in this page is an imaginary one. It has not been inspired in any existing Ferris Wheel. However it is roughly a 1/100 scale model of a 180 feel (60 meters) tall Ferris Wheel. The pattern can be resized at will using appropriate wood thickness. This Ferris wheel rotates around the central axis. It has 18 cabins each one with its own free axis so that they all stay vertical as the wheel rotates.

The pattern has been designed to use 3/16 inches wood or 4 mm wood. By scaling the pattern appropriately any other wood thickness can also be used. These are the dimensions of the Ferris wheel depending on the wood thicknes you use (tower and feet only):

	Height	Width	Depth
1/8 in. wood	17.2 in.	17.8 in.	11.9 in.
3/16 in. wood	25.8 in.	26.7 in.	17.8 in.
4 mm wood	55 cm	57 cm	38 cm
5 mm wood	69 cm	71 cm	47.5 cm

Please note that this pattern is registered and copyrighted. If you would like to have it I offer it for 15 € plus shipping. The pattern is computer made, which provides total precision, and nicely printed for convenient scrolling. Please write me to [email protected] to buy this pattern or for any questions.


These pictures have been kindly sent by Manuela from Australia.	This picture is courtesy of Rafael from Barcelona, Spain.


This picture is courtesy of Francisco Gómez from Palma de Mallorca (Spain). The use of different colours makes this Ferris Wheel remarkably attractive.	This picture has been kindly sent by Kevin Treasure from Australia.


This picture is courtesy of Gerard Vancaillie from from Schaerbeek, Belgium.	This picture is courtesy of Bernard Pattison from the UK.

These pictures have kindly been sent by Joseph Scicluna from Malta

These pictures have kindly been sent by Gino Rigole from Belgium.

These pictures have kindly been sent by Helmut Hastermann from Germany.

This picture has kindly been sent by Elke Sachs from Germany.

This picture has kindly been sent by Patrick Mulier from Belgiium.

These pictures have kindly been sent by Daniel Navarre from France.