OVERVIEW OF HOMESITE A:
TO VIEW HOMESITE B UNDER CONSTRUCTION CLICK HERE
During the early 1800's the Dentzel Carousel Company, not yet so named, began as a winter occupation at Michael Dentzel's southern German wagonmaking shop. He sent his son Gustav with a full sized carousel on a sailing steamer to America in the 1850's. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Gustav established a cabinetmaking and carouselmaking business, the carousel business flourished. Many immigrating European fine woodworkers were hired by the Dentzel company. Gustav's two sons, William and Edward, continued the business building large elegant galloping carousels for many locations in the USA. Edward relocated to southern California in the 1920's to set-up and operate carousels. In 1927, with William's death, the company folded, much of its inventory was sold to the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Edward continued his life in California as a house contractor in Beverly Hills, eventually becoming mayor of that city.
Edward's son William 2nd, born in Santa Monica, California became a lawyer and raised a family in the San Fernando Valley. In mid-life he too answered the carouselmaker's call to carve animals and make several small carousels (still in operation across America). After graduating univerisity his son William 3rd worked on wooden sailboats and carousel restorations during travels in his 20's eventually building his first full carousel in Chiapas, Mexico at age 30. After some more boat work and a wood carving stay in Saint Jean-Port Joli, Quebec he moved to Port Townsend WA where he and his wife Penny raised three children completely immersed in the carousel world. Upon William 2nd's death in 1991, William 3rd continued the joyful task of fitting the Dentzel Carousel Company into the age of computers. Community and student participation, focus on what the children really want and simple 5/10/15 rider wooden carousels with hand-crank, foot-pedal and electric powered mechanisms have become the style chosen to carry the craft into the 21st century.
The ancient origin of the carousel and its use as a military training device in the early middle ages is where the tradition of the ring catcher began, this has not been left behind be the Dentzel Carousel Company. The fun and versatility of the "flying horses" style of mechanism has also been reactivated by the DCC. In the Dentzel tradition many types of menagerie animals are made for the rides, also swing seats are used right along with the animals to the great satisfaction of the riders. Adults as well as children can ride these latest Dentzel carousels. Fortunately there is a sixth generation of Dentzel children already well versed in all aspects of carousel making and operation easing their way into the business.
The DCC website has information and photos on the present and past endeavors of the five generations of Dentzel carouselmakers. Also included are guides to carving, painting and operating carousels. The coloring book on this site was drawn by William 3rd for use as a painting guide when doing restoration work as well as a design guide for making larger scale drawings to construct full sized carousel animals. During the nearly two centuries of Dentzel carouselmaking, mechanism designs have gone from the very simple to the grand and back again to the simple. Childrens' attraction and appreciation for all types of carousels has never waned though it appears that their more intimate contact with the smaller machines is exceptionally memorable, especially when the ring catching game is played.
Thank you for visiting this site,
Here's a sneak preview of the remodeled Dentzel Carousel Company site. Many pages remain to be edited, it's all still under major construction, click here to check it out just for fun.
Enjoy,
William H. Dentzel 3
April 2016
Port Townsend WA USA
Edward's son William 2nd, born in Santa Monica, California became a lawyer and raised a family in the San Fernando Valley. In mid-life he too answered the carouselmaker's call to carve animals and make several small carousels (still in operation across America). After graduating univerisity his son William 3rd worked on wooden sailboats and carousel restorations during travels in his 20's eventually building his first full carousel in Chiapas, Mexico at age 30. After some more boat work and a wood carving stay in Saint Jean-Port Joli, Quebec he moved to Port Townsend WA where he and his wife Penny raised three children completely immersed in the carousel world. Upon William 2nd's death in 1991, William 3rd continued the joyful task of fitting the Dentzel Carousel Company into the age of computers. Community and student participation, focus on what the children really want and simple 5/10/15 rider wooden carousels with hand-crank, foot-pedal and electric powered mechanisms have become the style chosen to carry the craft into the 21st century.
The ancient origin of the carousel and its use as a military training device in the early middle ages is where the tradition of the ring catcher began, this has not been left behind be the Dentzel Carousel Company. The fun and versatility of the "flying horses" style of mechanism has also been reactivated by the DCC. In the Dentzel tradition many types of menagerie animals are made for the rides, also swing seats are used right along with the animals to the great satisfaction of the riders. Adults as well as children can ride these latest Dentzel carousels. Fortunately there is a sixth generation of Dentzel children already well versed in all aspects of carousel making and operation easing their way into the business.
The DCC website has information and photos on the present and past endeavors of the five generations of Dentzel carouselmakers. Also included are guides to carving, painting and operating carousels. The coloring book on this site was drawn by William 3rd for use as a painting guide when doing restoration work as well as a design guide for making larger scale drawings to construct full sized carousel animals. During the nearly two centuries of Dentzel carouselmaking, mechanism designs have gone from the very simple to the grand and back again to the simple. Childrens' attraction and appreciation for all types of carousels has never waned though it appears that their more intimate contact with the smaller machines is exceptionally memorable, especially when the ring catching game is played.
Thank you for visiting this site,
Here's a sneak preview of the remodeled Dentzel Carousel Company site. Many pages remain to be edited, it's all still under major construction, click here to check it out just for fun.
Enjoy,
William H. Dentzel 3
April 2016
Port Townsend WA USA
On Hold Until Border Crossings Become More Reasonable: Carousels for Palestine - Sending a Carousel to the Middle East, by the Port Townsend Carousel Association