The NCA Carousel Identification Project on this page was completed on 09/05/2010
The Request:
I have a carousel horse in my possession which I purchased from an Antique Store in Australia in 2000 at which time I was told it was constructed in circa 1900 and was an American Carousel horse which was brought to Australia by an American family around 1960. The grandson found the horse in the deceased estate and had it restored (as such) and I wondered if you could provide me with any information.
The NCA Conclusion:
Your horse is Charles Dare circa 1890 - 95. The horse would have been used originally on a portable carousel. This type of portable carousel is referred to as a track machine.
Here is a link to an operating portable track machine here in the U.S. This Dare machine would be similar.
What's interesting about your horse is the painting. The paint including the painted ribbons is a style more typical of your country vs. the U.S. It may have been repainted there.
