Garrett Metal Detectors and its Founders Celebrate Milestones

Garrett Metal Detectors and its Founders Celebrate Milestones

More than 250 Garrett Metal Detectors employees gathered on April 1 to celebrate both the 50-year anniversary of their company and the birthday of its founder, Charles Garrett.

Garrett Metal Detectors and its Founders Celebrate MilestonesWhen Garrett, now 82, began designing detectors, his original goal was simply to build a better tool for his own treasure pursuits than what he could purchase. The U.S. Navy veteran and electrical engineer had developed a passion for treasure hunting as a child. His wife Eleanor finally challenged him to either give up his tinkering with electronics or put his inventions on the market.

Charles and Eleanor created their company in 1964, initially operating from the garage of their own home. In the early days, the couple was happy to ship only several detectors a month.

“Our first sales were made from our home in Garland, Texas,” said Eleanor Garrett. “We built, packed and shipped metal detectors right out of our garage.”

Today, their family-owned business is one of the world’s largest producers of hobby, security and countermine detectors. Garrett security products are used to protect patrons of airports, schools, government, sporting events, hospitals, national landmarks and corporations. Garrett’s security metal detectors were the first to be used to help protect the Olympic Games. Garrett’s hobby detectors have discovered significant history around the world and are featured on television in programs such as the National Geographic Channel’s series “Diggers.”

Although the size of Garrett’s manufacturing facilities has changed over the decades, the operation still remains in Garland, Texas, where it all began.

“I feel like I’m at home,” Garrett expressed to his employees, who gathered to celebrate his birthday. “I guess that’s because Garrett Metal Detectors has always been like our second home.”

Vaughan Garrett, a company vice president and son of the Garrett founders, spoke at the anniversary celebration.

“The two standards that my mother and father used to launch Garrett Metal Detectors were: to provide the best metal detector at a reasonable price and to provide the best customer service, bar none,” he said. “I will add a third standard, and that is to always have our detectors made in America.”

Bob Podhrasky, a senior vice president for Garrett, offered optimism for the future of the company.

“The Garrett’s have always made this a family business,” he said, “and the family of Garrett employees is excited to start working on the next 50 years.”

Featured

  • Freedom of Choice

    In today's security landscape, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation in how organizations manage digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies, campus security teams, and large facility operators face increasingly complex challenges with expanding video data, tightening budget constraints and inflexible systems that limit innovation. Read Now

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

  • Midtown Manhattan Shooting Kills 4, Including NYPD Officer

    Four people were killed, including a NYPD officer, in a midtown Manhattan shooting on Monday. That’s according to CNN. Read Now

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.