Park Flashback: Catch the Brass Ring
When most people ride carousels nowadays, they have no idea why the outer row of horses are stationary. The reason is that at one time on most carousels, you used to be able to catch the brass ring.
Brass ring devices were developed during the heyday of the carousel in the U.S (1880 to 1921) The riders on the outside row of horses were often given a little challenge, perhaps as a way to draw interest or build excitement, more often as an enticement to sit on the outside row of horses which frequently did not move up and down and were therefore less enticing by themselves. Most rings were iron, but one or two per ride were made of brass; if a rider managed to grab a brass ring, it could be redeemed for a free ride.
Still confused? Here's some video we shot at Knoebel's Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA of their Grand Carousel in action. Knoebel's is one of the few parks still left in the world where you can still "catch the brass ring."
