The Allan Herschell Company was a company that specialized in the creation of amusement rides, particularly carousels and roller coasters. The company manufactured portable machines that could be used by traveling carnival operators. It was started in 1915 in the city of North Tonawanda, just outside Buffalo, New York, United States.
History Armitage–Herschell Company Scottish immigrant Allan Herschell, with James Armitage, created the Armitage–Herschell Company in 1872. Originally an iron foundry, it branched out into hand-carved wooden carousels in 1883. That same year, Herschell's son William traveled to London to meet former Limonaire Frères employee Eugene de Kleist. Backed by Armitage–Herschell, in 1888, de Kleist set up band-organ production in North Tonawanda, founding the North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Factory. The company produced a range of barrel-organ based products, suited for all ranges of fairground attraction. Armitage–Herschell carved many portable carousels, made in the simple "country fair" style. Surviving steam riding galleries are located in Mississippi and Maine. In 1901, Herschell left the company due to financial complications, thus allowing de Kliest to buy the pair out, and seek new investment from his association with Rudolph Wurlitzer. Armitage–Herschell declared bankruptcy and went out-of-business in 1903.
Herschell–Spillman Company (later Spillman Engineering Company) Herschell created the Herschell–Spillman Company in 1901 with his in-laws, the Spillmans. After Armitage–Herschell declared bankruptcy in 1903, Herschell–Spillman bought its assets. Herschell–Spillman started out creating and carving carousels in the basic "country fair" style, but later branched out to larger park machines, such as elaborate carousels with many types of animals. Surviving carousels can be found in California, Michigan, Maryland, and the Herschell–Spillman Noah's Ark Carousel in Portland, Oregon. Herschell–Spillman also constructed engines for the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company and the Daniels Motor Company. The Herschell–Spillman Motor Company Complex at North Tonawanda was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. Herschell retired from the company due to declining health in 1911..
The company dropped Herschell's name in 1916 and became known as the Spillman Engineering Company. It continued to make the same style of carousels, though later it focused more on horses with a few menagerie-styled machines. Surviving carousels can be seen in North Carolina and the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. It went out-of-business in 1945 when it was bought out by the Allan Herschell Company.
Allan Herschell Company The Allan Herschell Company, founded in 1915 after Herschell came out of retirement, was the last company he created; it became a competitor for the Spillman Engineering Company. Herschell specialized in horses with rigid poses and portable machines, which enabled them to be packed and shipped easily between towns. Herschell produced over 3,000 carved wooden carousels, which were shipped all over the United States and Canada, as well Mexico, South Africa, and India. Its factory, bought in 1915, is located on Thompson Street in North Tonawanda. It is one of the last factory complexes in the United States to contain the production of wooden carousels. The complex was expanded to meet the growing company's needs. The building has a large carving shop, a woodworking shop, a paint shop, a storage area, an upholstery shop, a machine shop, and a roundhouse where the carousels were assembled and tested. Herschell created other amusement rides besides carousels. He thought up the concept for rides specialized for small children, called "Kiddieland". Twister, Hurricane, Flying Bobs, and the Sky Wheel were thrill rides that catered towards adults. The company moved to Buffalo, New York, in the 1950s, and in 1970, it merged with rival amusement park company Chance Manufacturing of Wichita, Kansas.
Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, at the original factory site on Thompson Street, opened to the general public in July 1983, with a full operational carousel from 1916. The first floor of the factory has been opened up to provide exhibits and demonstrations. Different programs are offered, such as woodcarving of various skill levels, children's story time, guided tours, and a summer lecture series. Special programs, such as the Youth Volunteer Program and Neighborhood Partners Program, are offered to young people and local elementary-school children.
Surviving Allan Herschell Company rides
Carousels Year built Carousel Location Notes1900Bickleton Merry-Go-RoundCleveland Park, Cleveland, WashingtonOriginally opened with Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon in 1905 and relocated to Bickleton in 19291908Herschell-Spillman CarouselGage Park, Topeka, KansasTouring carousel. Operated at Boyles Joyland, Topeka, from 1957 until its restoration and relocation to Gage Park in 1989 1912 Ocean City Handcarved CarouselTrimpers Rides, Ocean City, Maryland Listed on National Register of Historic Places Still in full operation 1913 CarouselLagoon, Farmington, UtahListed on National Register of Historic Places; opened at Lagoon in 1918. 1913 Noah's Ark Carousel Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, Oregon Listed on National Register of Historic Places 1913 Two-Row Portable Menagerie Carousel Story City, Iowa Listed on National Register of Historic Places with 1913Herschell-Spillman CarouselThe Henry Ford, Dearborn, MIOriginal location unknown, operated in Spokane, WA from 1923 to 1961 1913 Chavis Park Antique Carousel Chavis Park, Raleigh, North Carolina 1916#1 Special CarrouselHerschell Carrousel Factory Museum 1916 3-Abreast CarouselDee, OregonFormerly at Chase Palm Park, Santa Barbara, California; relocated to Dee, Oregon, (south of Hood River) in 2017. Listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1999. . 1918 Elaine Wilson Carousel Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, New York 1918"Kiddie Park" Carousel https://www.kiddiepark.comBrackenridge Park, San Antonio, Texasoperating on May 3, 2026. Signs say, "Herschell Spillman Co. Builders 1918 N. Tonawanda.N.Y." and "...County Fair style carousel designed to be taken apart and shipped by rail to next county fair and reassembled. Placed in San Antonio in 1935..." 1919"Little Beauty"Waterford, MainePapoose Pond Family Campground and Cabins 1920 Highland Park Carousel Endwell, New York 1920 Ross Park Carousel Binghamton, New York 1920s Over-the-Jumps Carousel Little Rock Zoo, Little Rock, Arkansas 1920 Spillman Engineering 3-Abreast CarouselEastridge Mall, San Jose, CaliforniaListed on National Register of Historic Places in 2000. 1923 Allan Herschell Carousel Hydro Free Fair Park, Hydro, Oklahoma 1923 C. Fred Johnson Park Carousel Johnson City, New York 1924Herschell-Spillman CarouselDelGrosso's Amusement Park, Tipton, PAStill in current operation 1925 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Carousel Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, Colorado 1925 George F. Johnson Recreation Park Carousel Binghamton, New York 1928Grand Rapids Public MuseumGrand Rapids, MichiganThe Carousel was but in place when the museum was built in 1994. 1929 West Endicott Park Carousel Endicott, New York 1930 Antique carousel Private residence, Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania Owned by Diane and Louis Enos. 1930 Allan Herschell Carousel Private residence, Merritt Island, Florida Originally installed at Coney Island from its construction until 1965. Relocated to Baltimore, Maryland before being used as a traveling carousel. 1934 George W. Johnson Park Carousel Endicott, New York 1947 Allan Herschell Carousel Harper Motors, Eureka, California Purchased by dealership in 1991 1947 Allan Herschell Carousel Funland (Idaho Falls), Idaho Falls, ID 1947 Smithsonian Carousel National Mall, Washington, D.C. 1947 Carousel of Light Falmouth, Massachusetts 1949 Allan Herschell Carousel Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, Wichita, Kansas 1949CarouselCrandon Park, Key Biscayne, FloridaWas placed into storage in 1972 and later restored.1950Allan Herschell CarouselDesert Breeze Railroadstill operating 1950 Scottsdale Charro Carousel McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale, Arizona Formerly owned by Benson's Wild Animal Farm in Hudson, New Hampshire. 1950 Stewart Park Carousel Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York 1951 Country Carousel Scott Township, Pennsylvania Formerly located at Catskill Game Farm in Catskill, New York from 1951 until 2006. In 2018, Lakeland Orchard & Cidery purchased the carousel. 1952Playland Carousel Huck Finn's Playland, Albany, New York 1953 The Skyfighters Located at Funland in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 1957 Herschell 3-Row Travelling Carousel Hyannis, Massachusetts Located at Wackenhammer's Arcade STEAMuseum on Main Street since 1996
Trains
G-12 gauge miniature train G-16 gauge miniature train S-16 "1865" gauge miniature train S-24 "Iron Horse" gauge miniature train
Other rides Caterpillar, at Canobie Lake Park, Salem, New Hampshire, US Caterpillar, at Heritage Park Historical Village, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Looper, at Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania, US Red Baron Wild Waves Theme 7 Waterpark
List of roller coasters
As of 2019, Allan Herschell Company has built 185 roller coasters around the world.Allan Herschell Company - rcdb.com