Carousel Manufacturing

Allan Herschell History

Allan Herschell was born in Arbreath, Scotland, on April 27, 1851. He never carved a horse in his life. He was trained to be a molder. He arrived in the United States along with his parents and brother, George, in 1870, when he was 19 years old and held down a variety of jobs. In 1871, he entered into partnership with James Armitage and opened a factory on Main Street in Williamsville. In 1872 Tonawanda Engine and Machine Company opened on Sweeney Street in North Tonawanda, near the docks, with Herschell as one of the partners. In 1873 George Herschell joined the company. Allan Herschell married Ida Spillman in 1882.

In 1883 Herschell built a steam riding gallery or carousel at the Tonawanda Engine and Machine Company against the protest of his partners. The concept occurred to him following a diagnosis of a lung ailment and his doctor' recommendation that he get out of the boiler-making business. His first carousel had simple horses that rocked back and forth and utilized a steam engine to turn it. He operated the machine throughout Western New York, finally selling it to an auctioneer, Mr. Coons, of Attica. He built a second machine in 1884 and sold it to Sam Dietrich of Niagara Falls, New York.

In 1887 Tonawanda Engine and Machine Company was reorganized under the name Armitage Herschell Company, Inc., and sixty (60) steam riding galleries were sold. By 1891 one machine a day was being produced and shipped all over North America. In 1899 Armitage Herschell went into receivership due to land bust. Allan Herschell and his brother-in-law, Edward Spillman, formed a new company at a factory on Sweeney Street. In 1903, Herschell-Spillman bought out Armitage-Herschell and became the largest manufacturer of carousels in the United States.

In 1911 Herschell retired from Herschell-Spillman due to ill health. In 1915 he returned to carousel manufacturing, and with John Wendler and Fred Fritchie, former employees, formed the Allan Herschell Company, serving as President. The plant was located on Thompson Street.

In 1920 Herschell-Spillman, now located at Oliver and Goundry Streets, was reorganized into Spillman Engineering Corporation and continued to produce carousels and other amusement rides in competition with Allan Herschell Company.

Allan Herschell retired in 1923. He died in 1927.

In the 1940's Allan Herschell Company began producing Kiddie rides and introduced Kiddieland packages. In 1945 Allan Herschell Company bought out Spillman Engineering and John Wendler became President. His son, Bill, died following a long illness in 1951, and John Wendler died in 1952. His daughter Mary attempted to run the company in 1953, hoping to keep it going until her nephews reached majority. However, in 1953, Allan Herschell Company was sold to Weisner-Rapp in Buffalo, which eventually sold it to Lisk-Savory. Herschell rides continued to be built on Clinton Street in Buffalo under the original company name.

In 1969 the Allan Herschell Company ceased production of new rides. In September 1970, Allan Herschell Company was sold to Chance Manufacturing in Wichita, Kansas. Chance continued to build Herschell rides and carousels up to 1997. In December 1997, Chance put the Allan Herschell Company parts division up for sale at auction. The Carousel Society of the Niagara Frontier purchased the company and re-established it on Erie Avenue in North Tonawanda.

The Allan Herschell Company manufactured carousels, adult and kiddie amusement rides. It concentrated on portable carousels and produced only a few menagerie figures. Kiddie carousels became a staple in the 1950's. This company revolutionized the carousel industry by introducing “half-and-half” horse, having a wooden body and aluminum extremities. This eventually led to the manufacture of the all aluminum figure.

Popular amusement rides included the Caterpillar, Skywheel, Whiz Bang, Twister, Flying Bobs, Looper, fun houses and dark rides. Limited steel roller coaster production concentrated on kiddie and family coasters: Little Dipper, Roller Coaster, and the “mice” versions: Mad Mouse, Monster Mouse, and Mite Mouse.

Kiddielands became synonymous with the name Allan Herschell. Complete kiddielands were produced. Individual ride purchases were also encouraged. Popular kiddie rides included Helicopters, Skyfighter, Kiddie Boats, Turnpike, Flivver, Kiddie Auto, Kiddie Buggy, Kiddie Tank, Kiddie Jeep, Tug Boats, Jolly Caterpillar, Electric Buggy, Astronaut, Rodeo, Star Jet, and Kiddie Carousel.

Allan Herschell also became the largest manufacturer of miniature train rides, the Iron Horse being the most famous. This company also bought our Dodgem Corporation and produced Dodgem cars and buildings.

The present Allan Herschell Company produces replacement parts for kiddie and adult rides previously manufactured in the 1950's through the 1990's that are still in operation.

WHAT THEY MADE:

Armitage - Herschel & Company

• Steam Riding Galleries, also known as Carousels; for more information on the Armitage - Herschel & Company, please click HERE.

Herschell Spillman

• Carousels and amusement rides. Both portable and park carousels were produced. Portables were smaller and meant to travel from town to town. Park machines were larger and meant to be placed in a permanent location. Park carousels were offered with both horses and menagerie figures. Among the most famous menagerie figures was the Hop-Toad. Produced solely by Herschell-Spillman, this rare figure was fashioned after Mr. Toad in the story Wind in the Willows. It is the only carousel figure known to wear clothes. Amusement rides produced by this company included such popular attractions as the Lindy Loop and Leaping Lena.

Spillman Engineering

• Carousels and amusement rides. Among the popular rides were the Hey-Dey and Looper. For more information on Spillman Engineering Corporation, please click HERE.

For more information, please visit the Herschell Carrousel Museum.