Following is a response that a friend of mine received from the
auction house handling the sale of the B&B Carousell in Coney Island,
Brooklyn, New York.  The auction house web site is at
http://www.guernseys.com/Auctions/Carousell/About.html

Vincent Morgan
Queens, New York

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According to an advertisement placed by Guernsey's in the Carousel News
and Trader (July/August issue) the auction is scheduled for August 10th
at the carousel site.  A CD catalog is available from Guernsey's for
$15 including postage.  There is nothing about this on the web site,
but it appears from what is in the magazine that the auction is going
to happen.

According to Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey's (An Interview with Arlan
Ettinger, CN&T July/August 2005 p.22), "It would be expected that prices
would be extremely high if individual horses on this carousel did go up
for sale, many of these buyers would originate from New York City and
Brooklyn and could afford to bid high.  Theoretically, the horses could
be worth a great deal nostalgia-wise to those who grew up in New York
and remember this carousel."

Guernsey's has auctioned off many historic carousels over the years,
mostly piecemeal.  (Keep in mind, Guernsey's primary interest,
regardless of anything else anyone says, is getting the highest
possible price for the machine, whether that's whole or in pieces.)

Things are not looking good for the B&B with only a little over a month
to go until the auction.  I don't think that the NCA has the needed
financial resources to pull off a rescue... that isn't really what they
do.  If somebody needed historical information to back up an attempt to
save it, the NCA is where to go to get it.  But financially, I don't
think they're in a position to do much.  I've been a member on and off
for over 20 years.  Mostly the news letters kept you updated on the
latest carousels to be endangered or broken up, with some nice photos
and articles, but I've never seen any evidence  that they were in a
financial position to actually save carousels beyond passing the hat
and spreading relevant information to people who might be able to help
on various projects.  Not a knock on them, just a response to anyone
who is hoping that they can go in and buy the carousel.

GWH

 - - -

 [ At http://www.guernseys.com/Auctions/Carousell/About.html :

Who Will Save the Carousel?
Coney Island's Legendary Carousel Soon to be Sold

Coney Island -- the birthplace of the American amusement park -- is
very much in the spotlight these days as many champion the importance
of bringing back this unique area to its former glory.  One of the
original "crown jewels" of Coney Island however, the B & B Carousell
(the two ll's consistent with its original signage) on Surf Avenue,
is about to be sold at auction and unless a buyer is found who is
prepared to keep the carousel intact, it may be sold figure by figure
and hence be forever lost as a magnificent part of our American
heritage.  Guernsey's -- the auction house known for producing many
unique events -- is leading the drive to keep the carousel whole.  But
unless a buyer is found, an auction will be taking place this summer
at the site of the carousel on Coney Island.

By varying accounts, over the decades Coney Island has been home to as
many as twenty five carousels.  Indeed, a hundred years ago there were
roughly five thousand carousels spread across the U.S.  But as demands
for more challenging amusement park rides grew, interest in the
carousel dwindled.  Today, fewer than one hundred of these magnificent
machines survive.  And yet, interest in preserving carousels today
couldn't be greater as most of these survivors are in good hands,
forever protected from further dismantling.  The B & B Carousell --
its fifty beautiful horses, two chariots, band organ, ticket booth
and brass ring machine -- is Coney Island's single remaining carousel.
It has been lovingly owned and operated by one Coney Island family for
many decades.  Now the time has come for that family to pass along its
heritage and sell the carousel.

All but one of the carousel horses (and chariots, decorative carvings,
etc.) were handsomely carved in 1919 by Charles Carmel whose studio
was situated near the stables of Brooklyn's Prospect Park.  One horse,
a magnificent armored outer row horse with the image of Abraham Lincoln
carved within its trappings, was created by another legendary carousel
carver, Marcus Charles Illions.  Following its original placement in
New Jersey, the carousel was returned home to Brooklyn in 1932 when it
was sited in what has become its home for the last seventy three years
on Surf Avenue, Coney Island.  In wonderful working order, the
brilliantly colored horses whirl by at surprising speed, accompanied
by the magical sounds of the majestic band organ.

Guernsey's has indicated that it is prepared to negotiate with
interested parties prior to the auction in an effort to keep the
carousel complete and intact.  Accordingly, those who care about
preserving the glorious 1919 Coney Island B & B Carousell should
contact Guernsey's for full details.

 [ photos at http://www.guernseys.com/Auctions/Carousell/