At the start of 2017, an effort to restore the 1928 3-abreast
Spillman Engineering mixed carousel with its Wurlitzer 157 band organ
(played only on request) located at the Van Andel public museum in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, took place.
Since the halfway point of the million dollar process, newfangled
upgrades have been made to the carousel's new home as well as the
machine itself, some of which are: new feet stirrups, LED eco-lighting,
poles, crankshafts, along with some new figures as well as having the
carousel be able to support those bound to a wheelchair.
Each animal looks as it did back at the turn of the century in its
meticulous splendor thanks to the time-consuming attentions and detail
from the museum staff in restoring the ride, giving the machine a more
realistic and less artsy appearance than it had before this project
even rolled out.
A reopening date for the carousel hasn't been announced yet as I speak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8vwbTmK-UA
Andrew Lardieri
Voorhees, New Jersey
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