gondola carousel ride.. the only one of it's kind

[pauldquam1]

Hi. Just tuned you in.. I enjoyed the tour at Thursford a few years ago with members of the National Carousel Association, about 100 of us enjoyed

our five day tour including Thursford. They sell CDs of that Gavioli, plus

others of fair organs on the floor. Wonderful place.. Paul

[belvueboy]

thanks for all the info craig....i noticed the gallopers at bressingham were built in the very late 1800s by frederick savage at kings lynn...i dont know if that is the same savage family as the one that built the gondolas

[craig1102003]

(continued from above) Carved work for the "rodeo" was supplied at various times by Orton and Spooner and also by Lakin's. Two very unique rides. The Gondolas at Thursford are the original prototype Savage Switchback, while the Rodeo, being considerably older, is unchallenged as the oldest mechanically powered fairground ride to survive. Hope this is of interest.

[craig1102003]

(continued from above) The only other surviving switchback as far as is known is the "Rodeo Switchback". The origins of this machine are somewhat obscure but it was converted by Savages to a switchback at the turn of the century. Unlike the Thursford one, it retains a spinning top, like a set of gallopers, and has had a series of cars over the years, the current ones incorporate a series of Cowboys and Indians, together with various other animal and novelty cars (continued)

[craig1102003]

(continued from above)Later the 110 key Gavioli organ from Asplands Bioscope show was reduced in size to fit in the machine and gondolas refitted. In 1941, the machine was sold to Percy Cole, of Somerset, and the ride then travelled as "Coles Venetian Gondolas" for nearly 40 years, taking in many of the large fairs in the west country. The ride is now the sole survivor of the once common breed of Savage Standing top Switchbacks (continued)

[craig1102003]

The switchback ride featured on this video, which is at Thursford, is Frederick Savage's original prototype switchback, bought from new by the Aspland family. Built as a rather skeletel machie with a small spinning top and open toastrack cars. It was rebuilt by Savages a couple of times, first to a standing top with Gondola cars, then it had motors fitted. Around the time of WW1, Orton and Spooner of Burton on Trent fitted the rather fine extension front and steps (continued)

[koasterkav]

WOW! That is very rare! You don't see rides like that in the United States. The band organ is wonderful, very much in tune. The second song is "I'd like to teach the world to sing" from an old Coca Cola commercial.

[Mclaren1O]

This was shot at the thursford collection. The organ that is in the ride is belived to be the best 98 key gavioli their is, but some of it is non origional. The switchback is not the last in existance. Although i am pretty sure it is the only one left that was biult by Savages. I think that the one at the dingels is a Orton And Spooner.

[Dhbrydon]

I think that I am correct in saying this Savage Switchback is the oldest in existance.

[joansmith07]

i have weird dreams like that and they usualy mean something.....

maybe you will be the next owner of the 115 Key Verbeek?

[belvueboy]

youre right they do have this speedway ride but it was in disuse and in darkness....maybe they're going to restore it ...but with health and safety laws as they are it might be to much to meet these safety standards standards..i think they're quite fast when running...G forces !!!

[dalekbitch]

i haven't been there but they have all sorts of rides.even a speedway.(they call it a chariot racer though it's got motorbikes)?????

[belvueboy]

it would be great if we could see a vid of that dingles village switchback wouldnt it

[belvueboy]

glad you like it ...it is a rather special ride...and unique i believe

[dalekbitch]

YES.Though i heard dingles steam village have a rodeo spinning top switchback built in 1880!!!!!

[dalekbitch]

I like this ride.Ican't bear anything modern

[prestonjake]

Enjoyed Founders Day very much, shame me and Andy seemed to be the only ones under 30 there, Wish more 'younguns' like us would get interested. Thanks for the upload

[mortier92antwerp]

Superb Organ

[kgmlads]

Wonderfully atmospheric! Real history from a real organ. Not my kind of music though but enjoyed it never the less.

[belvueboy]

tune is i want to teach the world to sing

[EddyNickson]

Anyone know the name of the second tune on the organ?

[jory1963]

...no it's a 98-key Gavioli ex-Aspland's bioscope 110-key).  We are talking Cole's Gondola Switchback here now in the Thursford Collection, Norfolk, UK.

[Dhbrydon]

Isnt it wonderful that far sighted men like the late George Cushing and Reg Saunders loved these machines enough to preserve them for our enjoyment.

[Thijsie92]

Sounds nice! (Marenghi??)

[Dhbrydon]

No its a Gavioli, this ride was owned originall by the Coles family and was transported around England By a sream Tractor named Little Billy which ended up in the Saunders Collection