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The Allan Herschell Company was a company that specialized in the creation of amusement rides, particularly carousels and roller coasters. The company manufactured portable machines which could be used by traveling carnival operators.It was started in 1915 in North Tonawandamarker, a town located just outside of Buffalo, New Yorkmarker.

History

Previous Companies

Herschell, together with James Armitage, created the Herschell Armitage Company in 1873. It remained in operation until the early 1900s. The company carved many portable carousels, made simple in style. Surviving steam riding galleries are located in Mississippi and Maine.

In 1901, Herschell left the Herschell Armitage Company due to financial complications and then created another with the Spillmans, his in-laws. The company, Herschell Spillman Company, started out creating and carving carousels in a traditional style but later branching out to create larger park machines, such as elaborate carousels with many types of animals. Surviving carousels can be found in California, Michigan, and Maryland.

The company later dropped Herschell's name and was known as the Spillman Engineering Company. The company continued to make the same style of carousel, though later it focused more on horses with a few menagerie styled machines. Surviving carousels can be seen in North Carolina and the Strong National Museum of Playmarker in Rochester, New York.

Fourth and Final Company

The last company Herschell created was his own, competing with the Spillman Engineering Company, in 1915. Herschell specialized in horses with rigid poses and portable machines, which enabled them to be packed and shipped easily between towns. Herschell produced over 3,000 carved wooden carousels, which were shipped all over the United States and Canada, as well as other countries such as Mexicomarker, South Africa, and Indiamarker.

The factory was bought in 1915 and is located on Thompson Street in North Tonawanda. It is one of the last factory complexes in the United States which contained the production of wooden carousels. The complex was expanded to meet the growing company's needs. The building contains a large carving shop, a woodworking shop, a paint shop, a storage area, an upholstery shop, a machine shop and a roundhouse where the carousels were assembled and tested.

Herschell didn't create just carousel rides, but expanded to include rides made for children and adults. He thought up the concept for rides specialized for small children, called "Kiddieland." Twister, Hurricane, Flying Bobs, and the Sky Wheel were thrill rides catered towards adults.

The company moved to Buffalo, New York in the 1950s and in the 1970s, it was sold to a rival amusement park company called Chance Manufacturing located in Wichita, Kansasmarker.

The Herschell Carousel Factory Museum

The Allan Herschell Carousel Factory Museummarker is located at the original factory site on Thompson Street. It was first open to the general public in 1983, with a full operational carousel from 1916. The first floor of the factory has been opened up to provide exhibits and demonstrations. Different programs are offered, such as woodcarving of various skill levels, guided tours, and a summer lecture series. Special programs, such as Youth Volunteer Program and Neighborhood Partners Program are offered to young people and local elementary school children.

Surviving Allan Herschell Company rides



References

  • Morgan, Brian. "Major Carousel Builders and Carvers." National Carousel Association. 2008. 24 Nov 2008 /www.nca-usa.org/Carvers_Builders3.html>.


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