Restoration
A wooden carousel horse is made of between 70 and 100 pieces of carved wood on average. The old carousel manufacturers, including C.W. Parker, used nails and hide glue to assemble all the pieces of a carousel figure. Originally they had a life expectancy of about 5 years. Most wooden carousel figures today are approximately 100 years old, the glue has failed, and the nails are causing wood rot, and a multitude of other problems. Parts are worn out or missing - some broken in travel or usage. Repairs on the road by carousel operators were often very primitive, with what ever materials might be available. Every horse we have restored has had it's own unique problems.
Before and After
1918 C.W. Parker "American Beauty Rose"
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1918 C.W. Parker "American Beauty Rose", was donated by Carolyn Jones of Indian Wells, CA, in memory of her brother, Carl Welland. It was his carousel horse and sat on the porch of his cabin in the California mountains for over 20 years. Therefore it was weather worn, and the wood was very dry and checked. Most of the wood seams had opened, and all the leg joints were loose. Photo is prior to restoration work. |
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Many hours of restoration are already completed. Shims have been placed in the major cracks and open seams. A shim can still be seen in the head block. Minor cracks have been filled with wood putty. Old paint removed from the detail carving cuts, to once again show the detail of this beautiful carving. Wood primer has been put on the saddle and parts of the head to seal smaller cracks. |
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Don Johnston, volunteer woodcarver & restorer, is working on the pair of roses behind the saddle. The old nails and glue were removed, surfaces repaired and then reattached using wood dowels and modern glues. |
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Don Johnston spraying the white primer paint onto Parker's American Beauty Rose. |
Restoration of Abilene Parker Carousel Horse
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This Parker horse was donated to the Carousel Museum by Neide Cooley of Englewood, CO. Carousel people would call it a "Basket Case". It was full of wood rot, and held together with duct tape. The pieces of the horse were coming apart, and large gaps were where the seams of the wood should have been. |
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The wood rot had to be removed, much of the soft wood "hardened", and some replaced and recarved. Wood dowels, glue, and wood filler were used to reestablish the shape of the horse. New ears had to be carved. |
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The horse is an early Parker from the Abilene, KS era. It was from a "track machine", and had no hole through the body for a pole, but was mounted to a rocking cam on the belly. It was probably made in Abilene, before 1906. |
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White primer paint is applied before the colors are painted. |
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Mike Lawrence putting on the finishing touches. Mike is a volunteer restorer/woodcarver working on the restoration. |
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The Abilene Parker Horse is completed and installed in the Museum on the second floor of the C.W.Parker Carousel Museum. |
