Knoebels Brass Ring

 e during the turn of the century, the Knoebel farm began to be visited by "tally-hos." A tally-ho was a Sunday afternoon hayride with a destination. On those tally-hos destined for the Knoebel farm participants would sit along the creek banks, picnic in the woods, and some of the more daring would even jump from the covered bridge to the swimming hole below. Henry welcomed these groups and was even able to profit from their visits. He charged 25¢ to water, feed, and brush the horses that pulled the wagons. Picnic tables and benches were added and a life guard was hired to protect the swimmers. Eventually the sale of ice cream, popcorn, peanuts, and soft drinks was added to Henry's new enterprise. It is from these humble beginnings that Knoebels Amusement Resort arose.


The Grand Carousel was built in 1913 by George Kremer, who bought the carved wooden horses for his platform from wood carver Charles Carmel. It contains 63 horses and three chariots and weighs approximately 27 tons. Musical accompaniment is provided by two organs. The larger was manufactured in 1888 by Fratti and Company, Berlin. In the 1920's it was converted from a barrel organ to Artisan rolls. The smaller organ was built around 1900 by Gebruder Brothers, another German firm, and still uses the original style of folding cardboard music. 
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This is a Collector Series Brass Ring from The Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa

The Grand Carouse

The large four-abreast carousel was built by George Kremer, who bought the horses for his older Looff platform from wood-carver Charles

Carmel. Carmel was born in Russia in 1865, immigrated to the United States in 1883, and carved carousel figures in his shop in Brooklyn until his death in

1931.

The Knoebels Carousel was built in 1913 at North Beach, Long Island, where it operated with two other machines. Henry Knoebel, the parkʼs founder,

purchased the machine in 1941 from Riverside Park in Rahway, New Jersey. Carrying 63 horses and three Looff chariots, it is one of the largest carousels in the

world. It is maintained to the highest possible standards for an operating machine. Tradition plays an important part in the operation of Knoebels, especially at the

carousels. At the Grand Carousel you can still catch the BRASS RING for a free ride. Donʼt be disappointed if all you catch are steel

rings . . . itʼs still great fun!

The Organs

The Grand Carousel is accompanied by three organs. The largest was manufactured in 1888 by Frati and Company, Berlin, Germany. It was originally a barrel

organ, playing a large pinned cylinder like a music box. In the 1920ʼs it was converted to play the more versatile paper roll system, using 61 key Artizan rolls.

The smaller organ on the outside of the carousel was built in 1910 by the German firm of Gebruder Bruder, style 107, and was sold in the USA by the Berni

Organ Company, New York. It still plays the original folding cardboard music available only in Europe. This organ and all its music were extensively damaged

during the 1972 flood, when it was in the center of the carousel. Both the organ and music have since been restored. The third organ is located in the center of

the carousel. It is a Wilhem Bruder organ, model 79, and was originally with Philadelphia Toboggan Co. carousel #41, at Ross Farms, Pittsburgh, then Wildwood,

NJ. In 1977 that carousel was sold at auction, however, the organ moved to Clementon, NJ, with PTC carousel #49. In 1994 that carousel was also broken up

and Knoebels bought the organ. Sometime prior to 1957 it was converted to a Wurlitzer 125 duplex roll system. The organ was restored in 1996.