Lot 240
Gustav Dentzel Carousel Giraffe
American, Philadelphia Style. Restored Paint.
1901 Dentzel Carousel
In 1901, Jacob Plarr brought his original hand-carved Dentzel Carousel to Dorney Park. A Wurlitzer band organ provided music to riders. During the 1930s, this Dentzel carousel was put into storage after Dorney Park purchased a Philadelphia Toboggan Co. Carousel. Throughout the years it was brought out of storage for special events at the park. In 1954, the carousel was painted gold in honor of Dorney Park’s 70th anniversary.
The carousel was painted red, white and blue for the U.S. bi-centennial celebration in 1976. When Dorney Park celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1984, the carousel was once again taken out of storage and restored to its original state. The carousel was dismantled when the park was sold in 1985, and its pieces are now part of private collections.
This large and joyful giraffe spent virtually its entire life onboard the 1903 Dentzel carousel at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Since that carousel was dismantled about twenty years ago, it has remained in the hands of the family that had created Dorney Park.
Estimate: $25,000 - $35,000