About Carousels
Carousels are one of the best-known rides in amusement parks and one of the few that can claim to be loved by both kids and adults alike. Carousels were once reserved for soldiers and aristocrats, but they eventually became accessible to everybody. A much-respected part of entertainment history, carousels have an interesting background.
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Name Origin
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The word carousel seems to have two origins: the Italian word carosello and the French word carrousel. While the word is widely used in all English-speaking countries, the name merry-go-round is most commonly used in the U.S., while roundabout and galloper are common monikers in England. While the term carousel always refers to the mechanical platform that is usually seen at amusement parks, the word merry-go-round can also be used to describe small metal platforms that are hand-powered and are meant to be ridden by small children.
History
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Early forms of carousel-like platforms were used by the Turkish and European nobles as a method of cavalry training and combat preparation. It wasn't until the end of the 17th century that craftsmen started building structures to be used for entertainment purposes and even then it took years before the idea became widely accepted. Early carousels were built almost completely out of wood and consisted of carved horses hanging from poles or ropes, with no platform underneath. The platform carousel first came into existence by the mid-18th century. They were steam-powered for years, followed by offset hand cranks and eventually mechanical motors by the 20th century.
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Design
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Most early carousels featured horses, hand-carved and hand-painted. Throughout the years, other animals, vehicles and figures found their way into the design. Nowadays, there are many themed carousels, ranging from spaceships to chariots, with most figures made of fiberglass (or cast aluminum for older models) for safety and durability. There are a few double-decker carousels in the world, especially in Germany, although they lost popularity because they don't allow for quick entry and exit of riders, essential in modern-day amusement parks.
Records
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The oldest carousel still standing is in Wilhelmsbad Park in Germany. The oldest functioning one is in Prague, within the borders of urban Letná Park. Unique carousels include a solar-powered one at the Solar Living Institute in California, a waving-motion one in Little Rock, Arkansas (the only of its kind in the world), and the 262-foot tall Himmelskibet in Denmark (the world's tallest).
Curiosities
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Carousels in the U.S. turn counter-clockwise, while those in Europe turn the opposite way. Brass rings, which came into use in the 1880s, allow readers to earn a free ride if they're able to grab and pull the ring while the carousel is rotating. Their original function was to entice riders to sit on the outside rows of the carousel, which usually feature static horses (instead of moving ones) and thus are less attractive to children. Very few modern carousels still have brass rings.
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References
- Photo Credit Hazel Bregazzi
