autos

Volo Auto Museum reassembling antique carousel – Northwest Herald


What’s spinning into fruition this summer at the Volo Auto Museum is sure to spur the excitement of carousel fans of all ages.

In late winter, the museum at 27582 Volo Village Road became home to a 1920s Allan Herschell Co. merry-go-round. Or, more accurately, it became home to the thousands of parts that – once each is painstakingly restored – will be reassembled as the central focus of a new music and carousel hall.

The building that will house the exhibit already is under construction on the museum grounds. And freshly painted, polished and bejeweled horses and chariots are stacked side by side in an open-air storage area nearby. Visitors are encouraged to view the pieces and witness the reassembly as it progresses.

“We’ve been wanting a full-size carousel for a while, but we’ve been waiting for the right one,” said Brian Grams, museum director. “We wanted an antique, something with some history and character.”

The Herschell was in the possession of a private seller in California.

“Honestly, it’s worth more apart than together,” said Grams, noting that collectors are willing to pay $10,000 to $20,000 each for the horses. “There are 20 horses and two chariots. It will be 35 feet wide with an inner and outer row of horses. There are over 650 light bulbs. We have to remachine the central support column and replace the main bearing at a cost of $35,000. Each carousel piece and mechanical part is being restored. It’s a monumental undertaking.”

Grams said he expects the merry-go-round and its accompanying Wurlitzer pipe organ to be ready for action this fall.

Grams noted that the seller is an elderly widow who, along with her husband, made a living taking the merry-go-round from fair to fair back in the day.

“She was very happy to know it was going to be restored and preserved rather than parted out,” he said. “We look forward to our visitors riding it this fall, and we think our guests this summer will enjoy seeing it come together.”

The Volo Auto Museum features about 400 classic, muscle and film-famous cars as well as vintage snowmobiles, scooters, antique arcade machines and other rarities. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Regular admission is $15.95 for adults, $13.95 for seniors, $12.95 for military personnel with ID (free for military in uniform), $8.95 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for children 4 and younger. For information, call 815-385-3644, visit volocars.com or find Volo Auto Museum on Facebook.





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