A brass ring is a small grabbable ring that a dispenser presents to a carousel rider during the course of a ride. Usually there are a large number of iron rings and one brass one, or just a few. It takes some dexterity to grab a ring from the dispenser as the carousel rotates. The iron rings can be tossed at a target as an amusement. Typically, getting the brass ring gets the rider some sort of prize when presented to the operator. The prize often is a free repeat ride. The phrase to grab the brass ring is derived from this device. In Medevial Times, knights would aim for brass rings while in jousting tournaments, with those accomplishing the goal receiving a gold medal.
Contents |
Brass ring devices were developed during the heyday of the carousel in the U.S.--about 1880 to 1921. At one time, 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. References to a literal brass ring go back into the 1890s.[2]
Once the ride started moving, a metal arm was swung out for riders to try to grasp the ring from. As the wooden horses or other creatures circled around the center where the machinery and organ were housed, rings were fed to one end of a wooden arm that was suspended above the riders, who hoped that the timing of their horse's rise would coincide with their approach to the ring, which they would try to grab.
On some rides this held a single brass ring, which was difficult to grab since the outside edge of the carousel is always the fastest moving. Whoever managed to retrieve the brass ring, if anyone, could redeem it for a free ride. Another system had a dispenser of rings, most of which were steel and had no value, but one per ride was the brass one that won the prize. In this system, there was a target to throw the ring into (for example the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Looff Carousel uses a clown target as the image shows, and Knoebels Grand Carousel uses a Lion),[3] discouraging retention as a souvenir.
The brass ring as a term also means striving for the highest prize, or living life to the fullest. It is not clear when the phrase came into wide use but has been found in dictionaries as far back as the late 19th century.[4][5]
The term has been used as the title of at least two books.[6][7]
Although there are a lot of carousels extant, only a handful of carousels still have brass rings. The following pre 1960 vintage carousels in North America have operating brass ring dispensers/targets:[8]
| Park | Location | Name | Manufacturer | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmira, NY | Eldridge Park | Eldridge Park Carousel | Unknown | |
| San Diego, CA | Balboa Park | Balboa Park Carousel | Herschell-Spillman menagerie | 1910 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | Looff Carousel | Looff | 1911 |
| Auburndale, FL | International Market World | Lakeside Carousel | Mangels-Looff/S&G/Carmel | 1909 |
| Angola, IN | Fun Spot | Allan Herschell | 1929 | |
| Logansport, IN | Riverside Park | Dentzel | c.1902 | |
| Oak Bluffs, MA | Martha's Vineyard | Flying Horses | Dare | 1876 |
| Ocean City, NJ | Gillian's Wonderland Pier | PTC #75 | 1926 | |
| Brooklyn, NY | Coney Island | B & B Carousel | Mangels-Carmel | |
| Greenport, NY | Mitchell Park | Northrop-Grumman Carousel | Herschell-Spillman | 1920 |
| Easton, PA | Bushkill Park | Allan Herschell | 1920 | |
| Elysburg, PA | Knoebels Amusement Park & Resort | Grand Carousel | Kremers Carousel Works-Carmel | 1913 |
| Pen Argyl, PA | Weona Park | Dentzel | c.1900 | |
| East Providence, RI | Carousel Park | Crescent Park Carousel | Looff | 1895 |
| Watch Hill, RI | Watch Hill Park | The Flying Horse Carousel | Dare | c.1884 |
| Spokane, WA | Riverfront Park | Riverfront Park Carousel | Looff | 1909 |
| Roseneath, ON (Canada) | Roseneath Fairgrounds | Parker/Herschell Spillman | 1906 | |
| Helena, MT (USA) | Great Northern Town Center | Great Northern Carousel[9] | Todd Goings/Goings | 2001 |
