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Allan Herschell Company

From Alfawiki
Allan Herschell Company
Company typePrivate company
IndustryAmusement ride manufacturing
Founded1915
Defunct1970
FateMerged with Chance Rides
Area served
Worldwide

The Allan Herschell Company was renowned for producing amusement rides, especially carousels and roller coasters, with a particular emphasis on portable attractions designed for traveling carnivals. Established in 1915 in North Tonawanda, close to Buffalo, New York, the company catered to customers worldwide.

Armitage–Herschell Company

In 1872, Scottish immigrant Allan Herschell teamed up with James Armitage to create the Armitage–Herschell Company. Originally functioning as an iron foundry, by 1883 the firm had expanded into crafting hand-carved wooden carousels. That same year, Herschell’s son William connected with Eugene de Kleist, a former employee of Limonaire Frères, who in 1888 launched the North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Factory with financial support from Armitage–Herschell. This enterprise produced barrel organs for fairground use and crafted numerous portable "country fair" style carousels. Due to financial struggles, Herschell departed in 1901, allowing de Kleist to take control and seek investment from Rudolph Wurlitzer. The Armitage–Herschell Company ultimately filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in 1903.

Herschell–Spillman Company (later Spillman Engineering Company)

In 1901, Allan Herschell joined forces with his in-laws to establish the Herschell–Spillman Company. Following the bankruptcy of Armitage–Herschell in 1903, this new company acquired its assets and initially focused on producing "country fair" style carousels before progressing to more intricate park models featuring a variety of animal figures. Several of these historic carousels remain operational today in locations such as California, Michigan, Maryland, and Portland, Oregon. Additionally, the company supplied engines for the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company as well as Daniels Motor Company. The Herschell–Spillman Motor Company Complex in North Tonawanda was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. Allan Herschell retired in 1911 due to health concerns.

By 1916, the company had rebranded as Spillman Engineering Company, continuing carousel production with a focus on horse figures alongside some menagerie animals. Existing Spillman carousels can be found in North Carolina and at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. The firm ceased operations in 1945 after being acquired by the Allan Herschell Company.

Allan Herschell Company

After coming out of retirement in 1915, Allan Herschell founded the Allan Herschell Company, which emerged as a significant rival to Spillman Engineering. This company specialized in producing horses with fixed postures and portable carousel designs that facilitated easy transportation throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, and India. The North Tonawanda facility acquired that year included comprehensive workshops for carving, woodworking, painting, upholstery, machining, and featured a roundhouse used for assembly and testing—representing one of the final wooden carousel manufacturing sites in the United States.

In addition to carousels, Allan Herschell developed various other amusement rides aimed at children ("Kiddieland") as well as adult attractions such as the Twister, Hurricane, Flying Bobs, and Sky Wheel. In the 1950s, the company moved its operations to Buffalo before merging with Chance Manufacturing based in Wichita, Kansas in 1970.

Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum

Situated in the original manufacturing facility on Thompson Street, the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum welcomed visitors beginning in July 1983, showcasing a fully functional carousel from 1916. The museum's ground floor hosts various exhibits and live presentations. It provides diverse offerings such as woodcarving classes, guided tours, and a summer series of lectures. Community-focused programs like the Youth Volunteer Program and Neighborhood Partners Program actively involve local young people and elementary school students.

Carousels

Year Constructed Carousel Name Location Details Reference
1900 Bickleton Merry-Go-Round Cleveland Park, Cleveland, Washington Initially debuted at Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon in 1905; moved to Bickleton in 1929
1912 Ocean City Handcarved Carousel Trimpers Rides, Ocean City, Maryland Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and remains fully functional
1913 (c.) Carousel Lagoon, Farmington, Utah Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; began operation at Lagoon in 1918
1913 Noah's Ark Carousel Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon Included on National Register of Historic Places
1913 Two-Row Portable Menagerie Carousel Story City, Iowa Registered on National Register of Historic Places
1913 Herschell-Spillman Carousel The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan Original site unknown; operated in Spokane, Washington between 1923 and 1961
1913 (c.) Chavis Park Antique Carousel Chavis Park, Raleigh, North Carolina
1916 #1 Special Carrousel Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
1916 (c.) 3-Abreast Carousel Dee, Oregon Previously located at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara, California; transferred to Dee in 2017. Added to National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
1918 Elaine Wilson Carousel Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, New York
1919 "Little Beauty" Waterford, Maine Located at Papoose Pond Family Campground and Cabins
1920 Highland Park Carousel Endwell, New York
1920 Ross Park Carousel Binghamton, New York
1920s (c.) Over-the-Jumps Carousel Little Rock Zoo, Arkansas
1920 (c.) Spillman Engineering 3-Abreast Carousel Eastridge Mall, San Jose, California Included on National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
1923 Allan Herschell Carousel Hydro Free Fair Park, Hydro, Oklahoma
1923 C. Fred Johnson Park Carousel Johnson City, New York
1924 Herschell-Spillman Carousel DelGrosso's Amusement Park, Tipton, Pennsylvania Continues to operate
1925 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Carousel Colorado Springs, Colorado
1925 George F. Johnson Recreation Park Carousel Binghamton, New York
1928 Grand Rapids Public Museum Grand Rapids, Michigan Carousel installed concurrent with museum opening in 1994.
1929 West Endicott Park Carousel Endicott, New York
1930 (c.) Antique carousel Private residence, Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania Owned by Diane and Louis Enos.
1930 (c.) Allan Herschell Carousel Private residence, Merritt Island, Florida Originally located at Coney Island until 1965; subsequently moved to Baltimore and operated as a traveling carousel.
1934 George W. Johnson Park Carousel Endicott, New York
1947 Allan Herschell Carousel Harper Motors, Eureka, California Acquired by dealership in 1991
1947 Allan Herschell Carousel Funland (Idaho Falls), Idaho Falls, Idaho
1947 Smithsonian Carousel National Mall, Washington, D.C.
1947 Carousel of Light Falmouth, Massachusetts
1949 Allan Herschell Carousel Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, Wichita, Kansas
1949 Carousel Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, Florida Stored since 1972; subsequently restored.
1950 Allan Herschell Carousel Desert Breeze Railroad Remains operational
1950 Scottsdale Charro Carousel McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale, Arizona Previously owned by Benson's Wild Animal Farm in Hudson, New Hampshire.
1950 (c.) Stewart Park Carousel Stewart Park (Ithaca), New York
1951 Country Carousel Scott Township, Pennsylvania Formerly housed at Catskill Game Farm (1951–2006); acquired by Lakeland Orchard & Cidery in 2018.
1952 Playland Carousel Huck Finn's Playland, Albany, New York
1953 The Skyfighters Funland in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
1957 Herschell 3-Row Travelling Carousel Hyannis, Massachusetts Displayed at Wackenhammer's Arcade STEAMuseum since 1996.


Trains

  • G-12 scale miniature locomotive
  • G-16 scale miniature locomotive
  • S-16 "1865" scale miniature locomotive
  • S-24 "Iron Horse" scale miniature locomotive

Additional Attractions

Roller Coaster Inventory

By 2019, the Allan Herschell Company had manufactured a total of 185 roller coasters globally.

... [Table continues with similar format, focusing on key operational data and park locations] ...
Name Model Location Country Year Opened Current Status Reference
Little Dipper Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Frasier's Frontier United States United States Unknown Closed
Mite Mouse Wild Mouse / Mite Mouse Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom United States United States Unknown Removed
Miller's Gold Mine Wild Mouse / Mite Mouse Coney Island
Jolly Roger Amusement Park		 United States United States Unknown Removed
Monster Mouse Wild Mouse / Monster Mouse Forest Park United States United States Unknown Removed
Mad Mouse Wild Mouse / Mad Mouse Julia Davis Fun Depot United States United States Unknown Removed
Little Dipper Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Island in Pigeon Forge
Seabreeze Amusement Park
Enchanted Forest Water Safari		 United States United States Unknown Removed
Little Dipper Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Bell's Kiddieland
Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo
Adventureland Amusement Park (Indiana)		 United States United States Never opened/Unknown Removed
Little Rickies Little Twister Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Old Indiana Fun Park
Six Flags New England		 United States United States Unknown Removed
Kiddie Coaster Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Stricker's Grove United States United States Unknown Removed
Little Dipper Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Chippewa Lake Park United States United States Unknown Closed
L'll Dipper Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Tinkertown Family Fun Park Canada Canada Unknown Removed
Roller Coaster Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Adventureland United States United States Unknown Removed
Little Dipper Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Funtown United States United States Unknown Removed
Roller Coaster Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Sauzer's Kiddieland United States United States Unknown Removed
Little Dipper Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Kiddieland Amusement Park United States United States Unknown Removed
Little Dipper Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Fun Town United States United States Unknown Removed
Kiddie Coaster Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Wild Waves Theme Park United States United States Unknown Removed
Roller Coaster Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Peony Park United States United States Unknown Removed
Little Dipper Kiddie Coaster / Little Dipper Bell's Amusement Park United States United States Unknown Removed

Bibliography


External links

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