1939 Allan Herschell Carousel

The carousel at the heart of the museum was purchased in 1991 as a permanent addition to the collections. Built in North Tonawanda, New York, the machine came without any of the original animals. The frame was cleaned and refurbished, scenery panels were repainted, and museum staff and volunteers constructed a new platform.

Without any of the original pieces on the carousel, the museum has populated it with figures from the museum’s collections as well as on loan from private collectors. Historic “County Fair” or “Country Fair”–style animals from a variety of carvers are used, plus several recent carvings.

“Country Fair”–style animals from a variety of carvers are used, plus several recent carvings. Carousels built by the Allan Herschell Company after the 1920s consisted of figures using mass production methods. Original figures may be hand-carved wooden animals or may have a hand-carved wooden body with a cast aluminum head, legs and tail often referred to as a 50/50 or half and half.