A Century of Memories and Thrills: PTC # 44

Philadelphia Toboggan Company was founded in 1904 by Henry Auchy and Chester Albright, from then until 1934 PTC manufactured 87 carousels with only 35 confirmed to be in operation today.

One of these carousels is Kings Dominion's own carousel #44.

Built in 1917 for Riverside Park in Agawam, Massachusetts, the original owner was John Aroldi, the cost of the grand machine was $12,000 plus $1,710.37  for the 87 key Berni Organ and $303.45 for the motor. It changed ownership while at Riverside Park, being sold by Aroldi to John Gugliemetti for $13,000 in 1925. Sometime between its purchase in 1925 through 1936, the original Berni organ was replaced with an Artizan Organ. In 1936, John Gugliemetti sold it to his uncle, George Williams, whose real name was Giuseppe Gugliemetti for $3,000.

In 1938 it was moved to Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island where it stayed in operation until it was purchased by Taft Broadcasting Company and Top Value Enterprises in 1973.

It took two long years to completely restore the deteriorating carousel, with some horses barely held together with up to 50 layers of paint, it finally opened in its current location in Candy Apple Grove on May 3, 1975.

Fun Facts:

•      There are 66 hand carved boxwood horses, the outside row contains 16 stationary horses, while the 3 inner rows contain 50 jumpers, making the carousel a grand 4 row. Only two of these horses have their mouths completely shut.
•       Two carved chariots, 10 large mirrors, 22 large oil paintings, 18 crested garlands of flowers, 36 cherubs, 18 framed oil paintings, 18 filigree mirrors, 1800 electric bulbs adorn the carousel.
•       Kings Dominions PTC carousel is one of only three carousels to have been hand carved by John Zalar (with the exception of the chariots that were carved by Daniel Muller). John Zalar carved two other carousels for Philadelphia Toboggan Company, #45 at Woodland Park Zoo, #46 at Walt Disney World.
•      The Auchy Friction Drive was invented and patented by Henry Auchy, the cofounder of The Philadelphia Toboggan Company, in 1909. It can still be seen in action on the carousel today.
•      The carousel has been featured many times in Carousel News and Trader Magazine, “Torch” the lead horse on the carousel, making his debut on the cover in February of 1992. Again in April of 2013, a star spangled jumper horse from the second row with an early model of the US flag and a variation of the Silver Star banner as his décor appeared on the cover. The Silver Star banner he adorns first appeared in 1917, the year the carousel was built.

•     The original ticket booth has traveled with the carousel to every home it has had and can be seen sitting outside with it today.