Written, designed, painted and built by William H. Dentzel, 2018.
Opening up show of a worldwide voyage extending over thousand years.
The wheel and axel were developed in several regions over five thousand years ago.
Axels were erected with wheels on top, hanging baskets carried riders. Now there are carousels!
Crusaders saw Turks using carousels as cavalry training tools a thousand years ago and brought them to Europe as secret military training equipment.
Some early carousels were setup in European villages but generally they were kept away and used only in castles.
Carousels turn counter clockwise in most countries to keep the rider's right sword arm on outside. In England they turn clockwise so that riders may mount the horse on the left side, thus not disturbing their sword sheath hanging on their left hip. This custom is also related to why the British drive their cars on the left side of the road.
Carousels were released from the castles and built all over Europe. Many of these builders eventually immigrated to the USA.
Carousels of fine quality were setup in Royal Pleasure Gardens and also included the ring catching game.
The use of swords for military training was replaced with ring catching when carousels went out into the public.
Before modern electrified music was invented band organs were used to play happy sounds for the carousel rides.
In the 1800's many Europeans, Dentzels included, immigrated to America bringing carousel skills with them, America was growing and very ready.
The ring throwers needed a target, big clown faces were often used as targets to collect the rings.
The invention of the overhead galloping crank around 1880 was a big deal, this was the beginning of the golden age of carousels that lasted through most of the 1920's.
From the east coast of the USA carousels traveled west to many small towns and carnivals all the way to the ends of piers on the Pacific coast were my grandfather set them up.
Thank you for looking. A Video Crankie Show of World Carousel History is on the way, later in 2021.
The presence of sea monsters in the oceans slowed things down and kept people from going on long voyages.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CRANKIE BOXES - AKA Moving Panoramas
Crankie boxes are an Appalatian folk version of a larger tradition that was very popular in Europe and America from the late 18th to the mid 19th centuries.
Moving Panoramas they were called. This is a time before movies and television.
The Crankie Factory tells the story CLICK HERE.
See Wikipedia article on Moving Panoramas CLICK HERE
Ring Catching History and Etiquette CLICK HERE
Return to Dentzel Carousel Company Home Page CLICK HERE
All material copyrighted by William H Dentzel 2021