Allan Herschell Company

Allan Herschell Company, a major American name in carousels and portable rides

Allan Herschell Company holds an important place in American amusement history, especially through carousels, kiddie rides and machines designed for travelling carnival operators. The company was founded in 1915 in North Tonawanda, near Buffalo, in a region closely associated with carousel workshops.

Its identity rested on a strong idea: building rides that were robust, portable, easy to move and suited to operators who needed to take equipment from town to town. That approach explains why Herschell rides became familiar in small parks, kiddielands, fairs and family amusement areas.

The company is best associated with wooden horses, country-fair-style carousels, miniature trains and children’s rides. It also produced more dynamic rides, including Twister, Hurricane, Flying Bobs and Sky Wheel. In 1970, the company merged into Chance Manufacturing, extending its influence within the American amusement ride industry.