The Carousel's Savage Steam Engine |
The
restoration by Craig Robson and his team has taken approximately four
years. There are 30 ornately hand carved timber horses and cockerels, giving a galloping action as they go up and down, as well as cockerels rotating clockwise around an ornate centre that has sixty cutglass mirrors which create a unique Edwardian mirrorball effect. The horses, hand-carved by Anderson’s in approximately 1890 - 1905, are documented and are regarded as being the best examples of this type of master trade. |
The paint used by Mark in the finishing work is called “Flamboyance”. This almost extinct application consists of a silver base coat with a translucent top coat giving a warm shiny colour. It is not available in Australia and was imported from the United Kingdom to complete the work.
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The carousel has several Australian touches in that the carriages are decorated with the verse from the “Furphy Wagons”, the wagons used to carry the wate supplies to Australian troups - “Good, better best, never let it rest. Till your good is better and your better best”. On the front of the carriages is a riddle from the end of the 1900’s “YY UR, YY UB, ICUR YY 4 ME”. Although the ride was steam-operated and it appears to still be steam-operated, the ride is now operated by an electric motor. |
One of the Carriages |
The centre engine on the ride was manufactured by Savages Ltd of Kings Lynne and is complete with whistles and gauges.
The music to accompany this ride is provided by an 89 key Gavioli organ which originated in the Black Forest area of Germany and spent most of its working life in The Netherlands before being placed on the carousel at Luna Park, Sydney. (nb - photographs of organ coming out of Luna Park)
Gavioli Organ in the Carousel |
This organ is the only remaining 89 Number 2 Key; the music ranges from Strauss waltzes, military marches and folk tunes to more modern pieces. As a matter of interest, these machines were originally built with few nuts and bolts, mainly slip joints so that they could be pulled down and moved to the next fairground within eight hours. This was generally accomplished by towing the packed galloper wagons behind a Showman’s engine. |
The Gallopers weigh approximately 25 ton and are 10 metres in diameter and 7 metres high with ornately carved rounding boards with lion heads.
The carousel is the only fairground ride that has given continual pleasure to many generations over the last 150 years. We all can remember the times we had - none of life’s worries whilst riding the carousel.
We are privileged that this wonderful work of art is available for all to ride at Luna Park, Sydney..
European Carousel complete with horses, coaches and bears.
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