Continental, probably German, hand-operated musical carousel...
Continental, probably German, hand-operated musical carousel / fairground roundabout, early 20th century, an unusual and substantial early mechanical fairground toy, constructed principally in wood and printed cardboard, mounted upon a rectangular wooden base and incorporating a hand-operated musical mechanism, carousel is formed around a tall cylindrical central pavilion decorated in printed architectural ornament including an illustrated fairground or mechanical organ façade, around this revolves an elaborate arrangement of printed-card figures comprising mounted riders on horses together with passenger gondolas, suspended and supported from twisted metal uprights, the riders are individually lithographically printed in period dress, with both male and female figures represented, giving the whole the appearance of a contemporary fairground galloper or roundabout, above is a broad conical cardboard canopy, printed with restrained ornamental decoration and supported from the central column, the carousel is operated by a hand crank, which drives the rotation and simultaneously activates an integral simple 'plinker' musical mechanism, the mechanical arrangement also appears to permit the carousel to be driven externally, consistent with its possible use as an accessory alongside a model stationary steam engine, wooden base approximately 450 × 205 mm., carousel approximately 280 mm diameter x 300 mm high.* Literature: The survival of such an extensively constructed wood-and-card mechanical toy is noteworthy, these materials being considerably more vulnerable to wear, damp and accidental damage than contemporary tinplate toys, the printed decoration, architectural centrepiece and unusually large number of riders and gondolas give the toy considerable visual presence.
[ translate ]Continental, probably German, hand-operated musical carousel / fairground roundabout, early 20th century, an unusual and substantial early mechanical fairground toy, constructed principally in wood and printed cardboard, mounted upon a rectangular wooden base and incorporating a hand-operated musical mechanism, carousel is formed around a tall cylindrical central pavilion decorated in printed architectural ornament including an illustrated fairground or mechanical organ façade, around this revolves an elaborate arrangement of printed-card figures comprising mounted riders on horses together with passenger gondolas, suspended and supported from twisted metal uprights, the riders are individually lithographically printed in period dress, with both male and female figures represented, giving the whole the appearance of a contemporary fairground galloper or roundabout, above is a broad conical cardboard canopy, printed with restrained ornamental decoration and supported from the central column, the carousel is operated by a hand crank, which drives the rotation and simultaneously activates an integral simple 'plinker' musical mechanism, the mechanical arrangement also appears to permit the carousel to be driven externally, consistent with its possible use as an accessory alongside a model stationary steam engine, wooden base approximately 450 × 205 mm., carousel approximately 280 mm diameter x 300 mm high.* Literature: The survival of such an extensively constructed wood-and-card mechanical toy is noteworthy, these materials being considerably more vulnerable to wear, damp and accidental damage than contemporary tinplate toys, the printed decoration, architectural centrepiece and unusually large number of riders and gondolas give the toy considerable visual presence.
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