[Leica] IMG: Friday Fillies

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

> 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
> 

I'm very familiar with  Binghamton  having spent 8 summers of my childhood
in Norwich, NY. When I dream about it at night I wake up smiling and I'm
happy the whole day.


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Mark William Rabiner