Be sure to consult our Buyer's Guide & Fakes Database before purchasing a carousel figure. Each day, more and more knock-offs come on the market. Some look old but looks can be deceiving. Become an informed buyer.
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Miniature Carousel Builders Corner
THIS MODEL CAROUSEL IS AN ENDEAVOR TO REPRODUCE A MINIATURE OF THE PEN MAR PARK CAROUSEL BASED ON LIMITED INFORMATION.
- Dimensions: Base - 36" x 36"
- Carousel - 30" Diameter
- Overall Height - 23"
- Type - Standing Machine -- 18 sweeps - 3 Row - Ring Machine
- Builder - Howard "Chic" Hutton
- Started 1/97 - Completed 8/98
- Total Hours 1,038
The original carousel was built in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There still remains a question as to whether it was built by Gustav Dentzel or by Muller Brothers, since it had animals carved by both. It was brought to Pen Mar Park, Pen Mar, Md by William Libby & August Karst in 1907. In 1942 the Park was closed with rumors of a Government planned Veterans Hospital, which never materialized. The carousel was purchased by Mr. Karst's son at Forest Park in Hanover, Pennsylvania. It was later sold and taken to Alaska. The Carousel was destroyed but many of the animals were removed and are presently in private collections. Some are in a carousel exhibit in Anchorage, Alaska.
 
The Pen Mar carousel had some unique features. The rounding board was plain with only one colored light at each sweep (no pictures, no mirrors, no carvings), probably because it was in a building. Unlike most carousels that had plain white lights, it had colored lights. It is the only known carousel to have strands of beads lining both sides of the sweeps (model has 1800 strands). The sweeps were not painted like most, but were lined with velvet, red on one side and blue on the other, as can be seen in the photo. The carousel was referred to as a STANDING MACHINE, since the animals did not jump.
 
The carousel was a menagerie carousel and every effort has been made to include animals that are known to be on the original. Carousel has 52 animals and two Dentzel type chariots. The sweeps on the model are made from keys of an early 1900 upright piano, pictures are from early 1900 post cards, and the scenery panels from church bulletins. The ring machine is like the original and was constructed as described by a gentleman who operated it in his teen years.
Appreciation is extended to former Pen Mar Park employees, area
residents, and researchers who provided information, printed material, and photographs.
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