For more than 30 years after moving to Clearfield in 1890, the Gearhart Knitting Machine Operations were located in a rather modest, by today's standards, barn behind the Gearhart home at the corner of Nichols and West Front Streets (where the Arco service station is now located). In addition to the knitting machine itself, the company also offered parts for sale and for some time during its history, possibly from the beginning, sold yarns to be used in the knitting operations. Indicative of the national and international sale of the Gearhart Family Knitter, Dr. J. H. Mohr, Clearfield optometrist, recalls that his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mohr, frequently were called upon to translate letters written in German or other languages with orders or, questions arriving at the Gearhart company. Mr. Mohr could speak and read German and had knowledge of other Baltic national languages and Mrs. Mohr could translate from the French language. A knitting instruction book issued by the Gearhart company now in the County Historical Museum collection is printed in Spanish.
       In 1920, Joseph Gearhart's sons, Leonard A., John R., and Emery J., were actively engaged in the business with their father. Joseph Gearhart by then was 7l years old.
       Records at the Clearfield County Courthouse show that incorporation of the Gearhart firm as the "Gearhart Knitting Machine Company" was approved Aug. 11, 1920.
       The charter application said the company was being incorporated "for the purpose of manufacture and sale of knitting machines, yarns and knitting machine products".
       The incorporators were J. E. (Joseph) Gearhart, John Gearhart and Emery J. Gearhart, each holding 100 shares of stock with the capital stock valued at $30,000. The absence of Joseph's oldest son, Leonard A. Gearhart, from the list of incorporators is noticeable but he was employed elsewhere at the time. He is remembered by his daughter, Mrs. Surver, as advertising manager of the company later on and eventually took an active role in its management.
       The Progress of June 25, 1921 reported a major move by the Gearhart company--from the Nichols-West Front Street location to a new building on West Fourth Avenue. Reported the Progress: "The Gearhart Knitting Machine Factory, finding present quarters entirely too small to accommodate their rapidly expanding business, have decided to branch out by the erection of a large, new factory over on the West Side."
       "The site selected is on West Fourth Avenue, near Clearfield Street, where four lots were recently purchased and the excavation for the foundation began this week. The new factory will be of brick and concrete, the main building will be 36 by 100 feet in size and three stories high, with an L- shaped office building 30 by 30 feet in size."
       "The Gearhart Knitting Machine Company was first erected by J. E. Gearhart, inventor of the machine that has made Clearfield known around the world, some 39 years ago. The original construction was a modest frame structure, two stories high, on Nichols Street."
       "The Gearhart machine was practical and a money- maker from the start. Careful and judicious business methods and a first class article resulted in such business that it became necessary to greatly enlarge the original plant from time to time, until about every foot of space available was utilized and then when these quarters became cramped it was decided to further branch out."
       "Sometime ago, Mr. J. E. Gearhart decided to relinquish many of his business cares and had the Gearhart Knitting Machine Factory incorporated and shifted more of the burden of operating the factory onto the shoulders of his sons, L. A., John and Emery Gearhart. These young men have grown up with the business and are thoroughly conversant with its every detail and are all careful, competent businessmen and propose to greatly enlarge and extend their operations when the new plant is completed."
Thomas Lincoln Wall, in his 1925 Clearfield County History, reported that "at this time, 1925, another large four-story building is being erected in order to carry on and take care of the business."
        The Gearhart factory building is still in use. It became the headquarters of the then State Highway Department's (now PennDOT) District 2 office in 1928, later was used by Clearfield Sportswear and Clear-Don for manufacturing operations and now is occupied by the Clearfield Hardware Co.