Carousel Horse: Philadelphia Toboggan Company

Vintage Collectibles : Folk Art : Carousel Horse Ptc

 

The Philadelphia Toboggan Company was formed in 1903 to build finer and better carousels and coasters. Fewer than 3% of the thousands of carousels than once populated the American amusements have survived. Many were destroyed by fire, floods and often neglect. Great interest in these wonderful examples of folk carving of a past-gone era has rescued , not only carousel figures, but entire carousels. I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this revival and rescue. This stander came from an amusement park in Ohio. I was able to buy four horses from this carousel in 1985. This horse is called a "stander" or sometimes a "prancer", because his feet touch the floor. He is in park paint exactly as he was bought off the carousel. He only has one coat of paint and is very sound. He is all wood with his metal tag showing his location on the carousel. As a child I always wanted to ride the jumpers( the horses that went up and down). As a collector I love the standers and the jumpers. The standers are more stately and certainly larger. There were fewer standers on a carousel and consequently they are more expensive.This horse stands 57 inches tall and 42 inches long. Notice the strong teeth and the veins on his neck as well as the sensitive eyes. He lost his ear in transit years ago. His ear is there and attached, but should be filled and repainted. He was carved about 1922 during the time that John Zalar worked for the PTC as the Philadelphia Toboggan Company is known . He is just beautiful!

Item ID: 352