The overall introduction of carousel ride

A carousel, roundabout or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The "seats" are traditionally in the form of rows of wooden horses or other animals mounted on posts, many of which are moved up and down by gear work to simulate galloping, to the accompaniment of looped circus music.[citation needed] This leads to one of the alternative names in AmEng, the galloper. Other popular names are jumper, horse about and flying horses.

Carousels may not be able to compete with many of today’s technically advanced rides, yet they are still beloved by amusement park visitors of all ages. They also play an important role in the evolution of amusement parks. As one of the earliest rides to appear at the fairs and amusement areas that were the blueprints for today’s amusement parks, they helped whet the public’s appetite for bigger and better amusement park rides. In a playground, a roundabout or merry-go-round is usually a simple, child-powered rotating platform with bars or handles to which children can cling while riding.

Thrill ride or kid’s ride?

Carousels are not considered "thrill machines" by any stretch of the imagination. Still, carousels are as reliant on the laws of motion as their more exciting cousins, the roller coasters. It's theoretically possible that, allowed to spin out of control, a carousel could gain enough speed so that the riders would be thrown off. Thankfully, runaway carousels are not the least bit common. With all of its beauty and seeming simplicity, the carousel is a delicate balance of motion and forces. All of the horses move through one complete circle in the same amount of time. The horses on the outside of the carousel have to cover more distance than the inside horses in the same amount of time. This means the horses on the outside have a faster linear speed than those at the hub. On some carousels, the horses go up and down in a galloping motion simulating what it might be like to ride a real horse.

History.

The modern carousel emerged from early jousting traditions in Europe and the Middle East. Knights would gallop in a circle while tossing balls from one to another; an activity that required great skill and horsemanship. By the early 18th century carousels were being built and operated at various fairs and gatherings in central Europe and England. Animals and mechanisms would be crafted during the winter months and the family and workers would go touring in their wagon train through the region, operating their large menagerie carousel at various venues. In Europe, merry-go-rounds (as they are most often referred to in those countries) usually turn clockwise (see photograph at top), while in North America, carousels typically go counterclockwise (anticlockwise).One possible reason for carousels in the US turning anti- clockwise may be so that the rider can use their right hand to catch a brass ring. Another possible reason for the reverse direction was in rebellion to the King of England. By the mid-19th century the platform carousel was developed; the animals and chariots were fixed to a circular floor that would suspend from a center pole and rotate around. These mechanical innovations came at a crucial time, when increased prosperity meant that more people had time for leisure and spare money to spend on entertainment. It was in this historical context that the modern fairground ride was born. The golden age of the carousel in America was the early 20th century, with large machines and elaborate animals, chariots, and decorations being built.

Carousels are commonly populated with horses, each horse weighing roughly 100 lbs. (45 kg), but may include diverse varieties of mounts, like pigs, zebras, tigers, or mythological creatures such as dragons or unicorns. Sometimes, chair like or bench like seats are used as well, and occasionally mounts can be shaped like airplanes or cars. As was the case with most industries during the Great Depression, carousel builders found it difficult to continue production. In addition to the depressed economy, the rise of the roller coaster in the early 20th century began to overshadow the carousel’s place in the amusement park industry. They became marked as a “children’s ride” because they lacked the excitement of the newer rides. This combination of factors spelled the end of an era for carousel builders. Although more would be built once the economy recovered, they were no longer hand-carved, but instead cast in aluminum and fiberglass. However, since the 1970s, there has been a growing interest in restoring many of the old hand-carved carousels and preserving them for future generations.