During the early 1800's the Dentzel Carousel Company, not yet so named, began as a winter occupation at Michael Dentzel's southern German wagonmaking shop. He sent his son Gustav with a full sized carousel on a sailing steamer to America in the 1850's. In Philedelphia PA Gustav established a cabinetmaking and carouselmaking business, the carousel business flourished. Many immigrating European fine woodworkers were hired by the Dentzel company. Gustav's two sons, William and Edward, continued the business building large elegant galloping carousels for many locations in the USA. Edward relocated to southern California in the 1920's to set-up and operate carousels. In 1927, with William's death, the company folded, much of it was sold to the Philedalphia Tobaggan Company.
Edward's son William 2nd, born in Santa Monica, became a lawyer and raised a family in the San Fernando Valley. Later in life he too answered the carouselmaker's call to carve animals and make several small carousels. His son William 3rd worked on wooden sailboats and during travels in his 20's and built his first carousel in Chiapas, Mexico at 30. After some more boat work and a wood carving visit to Quebec he moved to Port Townsend WA where he and his wife Penny raised three children. Upon William 2nd's death in 1991, William 3rd took on the joyful challenge and task of fitting the Dentzel Carousel Company into the age of computers. Simple 10 rider wooden carousels with hand-crank, foot-pedal and electric powered mechanisms have become the style chosen to carry the craft into the 21st century.
The name CAROUSEL comes from the Italian CAROSELLO or "little war", a game brought back from the crusades involving clay balls of scented water thrown between galloping horsemen in a ring.
In the sixteenth century the French called the game carrousel and turned it into a magnificent spectacle of fancy dress and horsemanship.
Keep in mind that the best carousels were found in America, not Europe. The immigrant craftsmen wanted to make sure that their work reflected their dreams of what coming to America meant. The true American spirit was seen in the unique and free-flowing styles of the horses created in America. The brass rings that were on the horses on the older carousels were present so that people could try to grab in order to get a free ride. Today the brass rings are mostly gone. Riders are treated to this fun in a few places. Usually the most decorative are the horses that face the public. This is referred to as the "˜romance side'. The horse that is on the outside directly behind the chariot is referred to as the "˜lead (King) horse'. These are considered the fanciest on the ride. The benches for people who do not want to hold the reins are called lover's seats. These are also referred to as "˜chariots (gondolas)'.
The menagerie carousels by Dentzel contained animals both mythical and unexpected such as camels, zebra and the less exotic pig!
Horses on the carousel were excessively decorative with carved wooden flowers, golden detailing and bright painted patterns.
Good info I am in love with carousel's. Loving the large rabbit. I could be Alice for a moment riding that furry creature.
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