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History > Carousel Research - Page 2
{Carousel Research - 2 of 3}
Machines
Lend a Hand
The first recognizable carousel was made by a Frenchman who
had to train princes how to ride in the carousels. He created a machine
in 1680 that consisted of a long bar attached to a sturdy pole. Two wooden
horses were hung from the bar, and as the princes rode, two men pushed
the bar, which made the horses "ride" around in a circle. This machine
helped princes practice their spearing, and it is the bare skeleton of
our present-day carousels.
Merry-Go-Rounds 'Round the World
As more people became interested in this new carousel
machine, they began inventing some of their own. For the next 150 years,
carousels were being invented and reinvented all over the world. They
became popular in Europe, America, and Japan. These machines were powered
by anything from horses, to mules, to people. Carousel machines became
so popular that they were mentioned in writing. In 1729, George Alexander
Stevens wrote a poem where he talked about carousels. However, in his
poem, he called them merry-go-rounds. The name stuck, and they have been
fondly known by that name ever since.
Carousel at
the "Old Fashioned Day in the Park"
Power
From the People
Carousels showed up in many different places, including the
estates of the rich. They were modified and changed constantly. The wooden
horses were made much more elegant. Beautifully painted, realistically
carved horses were used. People dressed up in their finest clothes to
ride the new carousels. There was a drawback, however. The rides had to
be turned, and to turn the rides, power was needed. This power, though,
came from animals and people who worked hard to turn the ride. It wasn't
fair for the animals or people, but there wasn't any other way to provide
power at the time. There had to be a way to turn the wheel without making
men and animals slave...but how?
All
Steamed Up
In the 1860s, a new type of carousel was invented. Once again,
it was created by a Frenchman, but this carousel was powered by the riders
instead. The horses had pedals, and as they rode, people pedaled, much
like a bicycle. Later, an Englishman thought of using a steam engine to
power the merry-go-round. These steam engines had been invented in the
1700s and were used for many things. Factories, farms, and trains were
changed with the coming of the steam engine. Carousels were also changed
by the powerful engine. It allowed carousels to be bigger and to carry
more people. But these were just a few of the changes merry-go-rounds
would see over the next few years.