Census of Dentzel Carousels
5 Generations
Contents
- First Dentzel Carousels; Michael Dentzel
(photo), construction and operation in southern Germany,
early 19th century, none of his complete carousels are known to exist today.
- Antique Dentzel Carousels;
Gustav and his sons William I and Edward Dentzel (list
below),
Philadelphia and Los Angeles, 1861-1927
- Recent Dentzel Carousels; Wm. H. Dentzel II (list
below),
Santa Barbara, 1975-1991
- Contemporary Dentzel Carousels; Wm. H. Dentzel III
(list below),
Mexico, Santa Barbara, Port Townsend, 1981-present. Rope-pull powered, Hand-crank powered,
110AC electric powered, Solar/electric powered.
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Antique Dentzel
Carousels (1861-1927)
These are all hand carved wooden carousels on either standing or galloping platform frames powered by large electric motors made
by Gustav Dentzel (Michael's son who came by ship with a carousel from Germany
to America mid-1800's), William I, and Edward Dentzel (Gustav's two sons) between 1892 and 1926, (some of these machines
may also have animals from other makers on them).
- California:
- 1. Disneyland, Anaheim.
- 2. Knotts's Berry Farm, Buena Park.
- 3. Castle Park, Riverside.
- 4. San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco.
- Illinois:
- 1. Six Flag's Great America. Gurneo.
- Indiana:
- 1. Indianapolis Children's Museum, Indianapolis.
- 2. Riverside Park, Logansport.
- Maryland:
- Mississippi:
- 1. Highland Park, Meridian.
- Missouri:
- New Jersey:
- 1. Casino Pier, Seaside Heights.
- New York:
- 1. Ontario Beach Park, Rochester.
- North Carolina:
- 1. Burlington City Park, Burlington.
- 2. Pullen Park, Raleigh.
- Ohio:
- 1. Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky.
- Oregon:
- Pennsylvania:
- 1. Weona Park, Pen Argyl.
- 2. Kennywood Park, West Mifflin (south of Pittsburgh).
- 3. Dorney Park, Allentown.
- 4. Please Touch Museum,
Philadelphia, undergoing restoration, on loan from the Pennsylvania Historical
and Museum Commission in Harrisburg, this carousel was formerly held in storage
at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
- Tennessee
- 1. Libertyland, Memphis. (For Sale as of 2006)
- 2. Dollywood, Pigeon Forge.
- Texas:
- 1. Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington.
- 2. Fair Park, Dallas.
- 3. Astroworld, Houston. (For Sale as of 2006)
- Vermont:
- 1. Shelburne Museum, Shelburne.
- Canada:
- 1. Centreville, Centre Island, Toronto, Ontario.
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Recent Dentzel
Carousels, William H. Dentzel II (1975-1991)
Using his wooden originals, William H. Dentzel II
(1921-1991) made molds of his carousel animals and used the fiberglass figures to make a dozen small children's carousels ranging from
6.5 feet to 9.5 feet in diameter carrying either 4 or 8 riders. Aside from these animals which were used on his carousels,
William H. Dentzel made numerous other carvings including, large carousel animals as well as miniatures.
Marion Dentzel was a major force and inspiration for
the renaissance of the Dentzel carousel spirit..
- 1. 1975, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
- 2. 1979, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Rehabilitaion Room, Los Angeles, CA
- 3. 1979. Museum of Science and Industry, Los Angeles, CA.
- 4. 1980, Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, Santa Barbara CA.
- 5. 1980. Ronald MacDonald House, Los Angeles, CA.
- 6. 1981, Ronald MacDonald House, San Diego, CA.
- 7. 1982, Maryvale Orphan Asylum, Los Angeles, CA.
- 8. 1982, Gabiste Machine, San Raphael, CA.
- 9. 1983, La Habra Children's Museum, La Habra, CA.
- 10. 1986, Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children, Dallas, TX.
- 11. 1987, Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens (replacement carousel) Santa Barbara,CA.
- 12. 1989, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA.
- 13. 1991. Happy Times School, Burlington, NC.
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Contemporary Dentzel
Carousels, William H. Dentzel III (1981-present)
These are 12, 14, or 20 foot diameter stationary and
portable "Flying Horses" Carousels that carry either 5 or 10 riders. They are
all hand carved wooden carousels on a "flying horses" type of frame; some with
human powered mechanisms (rope-pull, hand-crank, or foot-pedal), the latest model is fitted with
D.C. electric/solar
power. William H. Dentzel III (b. 1949) also makes individual display
menagerie animals and coin-operated single animal rides,
read stories of each carousel's
construction:
- 1. 1981, Ochuxsop, Chiapas, Mexico (Ejido's Jardin de Niņos),
Rope-pull powered. Stationary type carousel
with wooden centerpole. Photo of carousel in
Jardin de Niņos school yard. One of the
simple horses, drawing showing the
tiger chariot. Photos by Antonio Turok.
-
2. 1984, Jalapa, Nicaragua (Parque Central)
Rope-pull powered. Stationary type carousel with wooden centerpole. Town park playground built by volunteers with
carousel and palapa. Carousel
set-up for final check before delivery.
- 3. 1986, Kelsey, California (North Star Tree Farm)
Hand-crank powered. Stationary type carousel with steel/wooden
centerpole. Carousel before delivery
to tree farm, on old Port Townsend pier.
- 4a. 1991, Sausalito, California (Bay
Area Discovery Museum, sold and moved to Washington State, see
#4b. 2001)
Foot-pedal powered. Stationary type carousel
with steel centerpole. Bringing in the
animals; pedaling the ride.
-
4b. 2001, Olympia, Washington (Hunter's Christmas Tree Farm and Pumpkin
Patch)
Foot-pedal powered.
- 5. 1995, Davis, California (Central Park)
Foot-pedal powered. Stationary type carousel with wooden
centerpole. Take a look at some of the parts;
cow and corgie, frog and seal,
pig and bunny, scenic panels,
rounding boards and shields, and finally the
kids painting. Recent
seal replacement.
-
6a. 1995, Port Townsend, Washington (Port Townsend Carousel Association)
Foot-pedal and Solar/electric
powered. Stationary type carousel with wooden centerpole. Young rider enjoying a flying ride
on Hippocampus at Wooden Boat Festival.
- 6b. 2007, Waveland,
Mississippi (downtown) new home for carousel, donated by the PTCA as part of the
hurricane Katrina reconstruction effort.
- 7. 1996, McMinnville, Tennessee (Bonnie and Steve Davis)
Hand-crank powered. Portable type carousel
with steel centerpole.
Jack and Noah had to test the ride first; Bonnie and Steve painted
the whole carousel themselves.
-
8. 2005, Hopland,
California (http://www.solarliving.org) Hand-crank and
Solar/electric powered. Portable type
carousel with steel centerpole. This carousel is
operating now, as of summer 2005, at the Solar Living Institute in Hopland CA.
Construction photos at the Port Townsend workshop.
- 9. 1998, Madison, Connecticut (Lenny and Joe's Fishtale Carousel Page)
110AC electric powered. Stationary
type carousel with wooden centerpole. Showing off
the Hippocampus (photo) on the Magical Fishtale Charity
Carousel.
- 10. 2005, Port Townsend, Washington (For Sale, awaiting menagerie
animals). Stationary type carousel with wooden centerpole and galvanized
metal parts; all power options available, no animals or scenic panels yet made.
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Last updated October 16, 2007