The book is full of magnificent pictures - these are merely representative. Please try to imagine the cacophony of the Wurlitzer organ piping in the background.
Philadelphia Toboggan Company c. 1922
The Philadelphia Toboggan Company based the design of their many armored horses on medieval pageantry but they would usually take the liberty of artistic embellishment.This white horse bearing brilliantly colored red, yellow and blue armor (including on its head and face) over a striped green blanket appears to be charging hard.
Currently operating at the Santa Monica Pier
Dentzel Rooster c. 1895
Several companies produced roosters, but Dentzel's representation was by far the most intricate and realistic. The time-consuming detail work involved carving the rooster may have led to its demise and replacement by simpler animals. No Dentzel roosters were carved after 1900 and only five are known to exist today.This astonishingly life like rooster (excepting for the saddle of course) is rooster red, with yellow beak and feet. The saddle is blue and lies on a white blanket edged with a gold border stripe.
Last operated at Neptune Beach, Alameda, California
Herschell-Spillman Sea Monster c. 1912
Mythical creatures were created by several companies, but in America they were always related to the sea. It is not known exactly where the inspiration originated, although tales of the Loch Ness Monster were prevalent at the turn of the century.
Currently operating at Tilden Park, Berkely, California
7 comments:
I LOVE Merry-Go-rounds with a passion.... more then anyother fairground ride.....
There is a place about 40 away from us called Hollycombe Steam Fair... and it has many many vintage fairgrounds rides from days of old.... all run by steam including steam engine rides... its set in out grounds in the South Downs and makes for the most beautiful day out.... and my most favourite is always the Merry-Go-Round with its painted horses.... all steam run....
If you google Hollycombe Steam Fair Im sure you will find some better information....
:)
x
Hello Marmite!
Thanks for the information on Hollycombe Steam Fair. That looks like a really fun place to visit!
Click on attractions - and then click the first photo to see the Carousel The other pictures are really neat too!
Great pics, Iggy. (what kind of scanner do you have that gets those pics so bright and clear?) I love carousels, too. When I see things like this, I think of the carousel at Knoebels. Wonderful oldtime fun. I still have that cd you sent me of the band organ music, too. Love it!
Oooooooooooooooooh purdy. That first one's my desktop wallpaper right now....
Im with Alice...those were some really nice, bright, clear scans. Did they come off the scanner that way or did ya tweak em a bit?
I haven't been on a merry go round for years! And now you've got me wanting a ride on one! LOL! :)
Its an Epson GT-2500 flatbed scanner in the office. We use it to scan documents and color photographs for some of our clients - some of it is for their web pages and sales and marketing literature.
These images were not tweaked at all - I did crop and resize them slightly. I love this scanner! After years of struggling with the earliest of models right up to this one - I'll never regret getting this beaut.
Wow awesome pictures. Checked out the Hollycombe Steam Fair site too. Neat pictures. Merry-go-rounds bring out the child in me.
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