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Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
The Museums Exhibits

There are three new temporary exhibits for 2008-

Chance Manufacturing - the successor of the Herschell company.

Kiddielands - Rides with a Future. Kiddieland rides saved the company after carousels were no longer as popular.

Who was Herschell? Part of the Herschell exhibit is a traveling exhibit on loan from the Upstate History Alliance. It explains the importance of archives.

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Museum Highlights:

We are the only museum in the world housed in an authentic, original carousel factory building.

The building and our 1916 carousel are listed on both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Sites.
We are located at 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, NY 14120.
Phone: 716-693-1885
info@carrouselmuseum.org


Exhibits Include:

Factory Carving.
    The Lockman Collection of 20 hand-carved carousel animals which document the changes in style and ownership of the North Tonawanda carousel companies.
    A 26-photo exhibit documenting the production of a carousel at the Herschell-Spillman Company factory, from delivery of lumber to setup in a park.
    The Wurlitzer Music Roll Shop contains the only remaining music roll production equipment from the Wurlitzer Company.
The Carousels: The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum currently operates two historic carousels inside its building complex in North Tonawanda. The large 1916 #1 Special carousel is 40 feet in diameter, has 36 hand carved horses and over 580 lights. This carousel was one of the first machines the company shipped after it opened for business at the Thompson Street location in 1915. Some of Our Many Carrousel Horses.
It rotates at approximately 6.5 revolutions per minute and was intended as a thrill ride for adults. The carousel is unique because it combines two completely different styles of horses. The large wild looking horses on the outer row of the machine are the "new and improved" 1916 Allan Herschell style.
More of Our Many Carrousel Horses. The two inner rows of horses are an older style dating from the late 1890's. A number of the wooden horses are currently undergoing restoration at the Museum.

Within the next two years we hope to restore the entire carousel to an original factory color scheme. A Wurlitzer military band organ, circa 1910, plays the lilting sounds associated with a carousel ride.

Located in the Children's Gallery is a small 1940's aluminum carousel. Called a "Kiddie Carousel" in the Allan Herschell Company catalog, it was created specifically for small children to ride without the need for adults to accompany them. The horses are child-size and the machine moves more slowly than a full sized carousel. The Kiddie Carousel has been completely restored and while adults cannot ride on the machine, it is a delight to the eyes.

Both carousels operate daily during the Museum's open hours. We take great care to preserve them, as both are rare historical artifacts. Therefore, if maintenance is necessary, one or both carousels may be shut down for a short period of time. Paid admission to the Museum includes one free ride on either carousel. Additional ride tokens may be purchased for 50¢. Small children under 43 inches in height may ride on the large 1916 carousel if they are accompanied by an adult. The Kiddie Carousel is restricted to children under 43 inches in height.

The Lockman Collection: The Lockman Collection, purchased by the museum in 1995, is on exhibit in the museum. These animals document the changes in style of carousel animals over a period of sixty years in the different factories with which Allan Herschell was associated. The earliest animals are small and fairly plain. Later animals have a more realistic look and have been carved with more detail. Carrousel Zebra
The collection includes animals from the four eras of carousel companies in North Tonawanda: the Armitage-Herschell Company, Herschell-Spillman Company, Spillman Engineering Company, and Allan Herschell Company.
Carrousel Dog. Some have elaborate scroll work and painted details on their bridles and saddles. This collection also includes several unusual and popular menagerie animals, such as a carousel dog, a wild boar, a rooster, and an ostrich.

The Armitage-Herschell Company (1872-1906), was as well known for its custom made boilers and machinery parts as it was for its Steam Riding Galleries (early merry go rounds). The Herschell-Spillman Company (1906-1926), made safety and design improvements to carousels. Herschell's third company, the Allan Herschell Company (1916-1969), introduced the concept of aluminum horses and "Kiddieland" rides. The Allan Herschell Company factory complex is the only remaining North Tonawanda facility which produced hand carved carousels. It houses the present day Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum.
The Herschell companies collectively were the most prolific producers of carousels in the country, manufacturing machines which were known for quality in workmanship and reliability. Their horses, while not as elaborate as some of their competitors, have a charm and grace which is unique to Herschell animals. They are prime examples of the "county fair" style of carousel horse. County Fair Style of Carrousel Horse

Wurlitzer Music Roll Shop: This collection of original machinery from the early 1900's Wurlitzer Company factory demonstrates the production of paper music rolls. Band organs need these rolls to play the magical sounds which have always been a part of the carousel experience.
Music Roll Machinery Music Roll.
The exhibit includes over 1600 hand-punched original master rolls dating back to the turn of the century from the Wurlitzer Company and later TRT Manufacturing. This is the only public display of equipment of this type in the country! Music rolls produced by a volunteer crew are available for purchase in the gift shop.


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