Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/03/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]To continue on my horse theme - here are some horses of a different timbre. Upstate New York, in the area around Binghampton, is considered the "Carousel Capital of the World." There are six original classical carousels in the area, donated by George F. Johnson, owner of the Endicott-Johnson Company early in the 20th century. These carousels were donated with the express stipulation that they would never charge admission for anyone to ride them. Apparently when Mr. Johnson was a child he was frequently too poor to ride the local carousel and he vowed this would never happen to another child in the area. Mr. Johnson had plenty of money to spend. The Endicott-Johnson company was the largest shoe manufacturer in the world for about 50 years and made the bulk of the boots worn by the U.S. Army in WW1 and WW2. Here is a sprightly pair of hand carved horses just raring to go: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Carousel+horses.jpg.html Most European carousel horses are relatively static in posture. American figures are more flamboyantly active with tossed manes, expressive eyes and mouths. Many were superbly made in the early 1900s by skilled craftsmen taking advantage of excellent and cheap carving wood such as Appalachian white pine, basswood, and yellow poplar. This filly may well be the last of its kind since carving horses is not regarded as a growth profession. I believe that there is only one family living in Washington State still making wooden horses. http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Carousel+horse.jpg.html Larry Z