I know it came from Coney Island. How old is it? When was it built

I'm near positive that someone on this board will correct me but 1932 seems to stick out to me. I know (at least I think) that it was around for one of the large floods in the 1930's; there were stories of the horses being washed up all down the Ohio River.

The Carousel building (and platform) could really use a good sandblast and paint job.

One of the shops along the north side of International Street used to have historical pictures of the Carousel- but I don't think they have had it for a while.

Kings Island`s Carousel was built in 1926 for Coney Island. It was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. It is PTC Carousel #79. The band organ (that up until a few years back was still operating) was built in 1918. The band organ did not join the carousel until it was moved to Kings Island in 1972.

If you`ve had the chance to go on some of the backstage tours at Kings Island, you will know that they own a couple extra horses. These extra horses are continuously being rehabbed and swamped out with all the 48 horses that the carousel features. Of the 48 horses, only 28 move up and down. The Carousel is the oldest ride in the park.

Is the band organ gone, or just not operating? That is a piece of KI's character. If it's gone, that's too bad.

Well, the face of it is still there. But it looks as if the inner workings of it have been removed. Which like you said is sad. The piped in music they have playing is sometimes barely audible.

Nearly all of the horses also have "pTc" worked into their design somehow, signifying Philadelphia Tobagan Company. Primarily today they make wooden roller coaster cars, do they still do carousels?

The Carosuel is one of my favorite rides, I hope it's life is long lived.

It was built in '26?

It must cost a lot of money to fix the Band Organ because if you ask me, that is about 80% of the ride! I hope they saved the parts.

Well, the face of it is still there. But it looks as if the inner workings of it have been removed. Which like you said is sad. The piped in music they have playing is sometimes barely audible.

Yeah they should fix it, since it's such a vintage classic

Nearly all of the horses also have "pTc" worked into their design somehow, signifying Philadelphia Tobagan Company. Primarily today they make wooden roller coaster cars, do they still do carousels?

Wasn't there an annoucement a while back that they were going to start building Antique Carousels again? If so, I need to start saving money because I want one before I die. My screenname should be CarouselNut cause I love antique carousels.

http://www.rcdb.com/pd12.htm

^Uh, ok? List of past and present roller coasters at Kings Island.

^Uh, Yes! The Company which is being talked about in this thread!

Yeah, we we're talking about Philadelphia Tobagan Company constructing the carousel for Coney Island which was eventually moved to Kings Island, was just curious as to why you posted a list of KI roller coasters in the topic about Carousels, lol.

The link did have a press release about the carousel.

Hm, I guess being in school has given me the ability to connect two unrelated topics.

I'm posting at school right now. Clueless teachers!

But yea, I'd like to see the carosuel stay for a while, that thing is one heck of a trooper.

That is where we use to take smoke breaks when we were not suppose to is on the inside...lol

I think it is really sad and inexcusable that they do not fix the carousel organ at Kings Island. Knoebels has several working organs, and the one at Kennywood and Idlewild work as well. If those parks, which I know have less money than Cedar Fair (at least before the sale of Kennywood!) can keep their organs working, then it seems Cedar Fair could see to it that their organs work. I know they are obsessed with return on investment and such, but antique organs are amazing and increasingly rare attractions, and I think the public does respond well to a well maintained carousel...

The document Donnie was trying to post about the carousel can be found at:

http://www.rcdb.com/document32.htm

Ty Interpreter

I do enjoy the old Carousel at Kings Island. It brings back memories of my childhood going to Fiorest Park in New York.

Nearly all of the horses also have "pTc" worked into their design somehow, signifying Philadelphia Tobagan Company. Primarily today they make wooden roller coaster cars, do they still do carousels?

I talked to Tom Rebbie several years back and he said they really wanted to do a 100 year anniversary carousel but couldn't get anyone to buy the concept... so I guess they technically are in the business..

A Couple other tidbits about the carousel:

The lead horse on the carousel (and on any carousel) is the one that has roses on it. There is only one, and it is always followed by an armored horse.

There are only I believe 5 horses at Kings Island that actually have the PTC Crest in them.

At any given time there are always 2 plastic horses on the carousel, one that goes up and down, and one that stays stationary, they take the places of the two horses that are being worked on at the time.

A special horse was made for winterfest.

The initials on each horse are the initials of important members of maintainence at Kings Island past and present.

The face of the organ is there, but the organ is not inside. The last several seasons have used a CD audio system for the music.

April 2007

Oct. 2006

The document Donnie was trying to post about the carousel can be found at:

http://www.rcdb.com/document32.htm

Thank you, I will check that out. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of ride/art that there is.

Those horses are gorgeous!

I can't wait to see the doc.

thanks again!

Here is a picture of KI carousel band organ shell;

And some one mentioned about a special Winterfest horse which so happens to be my daughters favorite horse that she calls “Peppermint Christmas Ginger”. Here is a picture of her on it and you can see the initials of the front of the neck of the horse of “DDB”

Also I am going to add a player that I copied of some carousel music feel free to enjoy.

Playing a CD is too generic, just like when they don't have a real organ player at the Reds game

At least THEY play a CD. At Camden Park, for instance, the carousel usually spins silently.

Is the band organ gone, or just not operating? That is a piece of KI's character. If it's gone, that's too bad.

Well now that Cedar Fair owns it, I HIGHLY DOUBT the band organ will EVER work again. The carousel's at CP just play a CD of band organ music, they haven't worked in YEARS. I guess they think the ride runs fine without them. I still remember as a kid going to CP and watching the band organ play on the carousel's, back then they had 3 working band organs but one of the carousel's was sent to Dorney a few years ago.