How Velocipede Carousels Work

No one knows for sure when the very first velocipede carousel was created, although it was around the mid- to late 19th century [source: The University of Sheffield].At that time, foot power was gaining popularity. Back in 1817, Germany's Karl Drais had invented a precursor to the bicycle called a running machine, hobby horse or Draisine, among other names. A heavy wooden contraption, it featured two wheels in alignment, a seat and steering mechanism akin to today's handlebars. There was no drivetrain; people operated it by pushing along the ground with their feet [source: Hoefer]. In 1863, the "bone shaker" debuted, more bicycle-like in that the front wheel sported pedals so riders' feet didn't touch the ground. A few years later, in 1870, the "high-wheeler" was unveiled. With a giant front tire and tiny back one, this looked less like today's bikes than the bone shaker, but was the first machine to be called a bicycle. It was also the first to sport rubber tires [source: Mozer].

It was this era that birthed the velocipede carousel. But not simply to jump in on the bike craze of the day. Its creation was supposedly due to Parisians and their love of horses. At that time, Parisians still loved getting around via horse. Despite the bicycle's growing popularity around the world as an alternate mode of transportation, Parisians weren't cottoning to the idea of stabling old Nellie so they could cycle around town instead [source: Palermo].

But authorities wanted them to try. The world was rapidly modernizing, and the use of horses in large cities was pretty much a thing of the past. Horses continually pooped in the streets, for one thing. Plus they attracted flies, could be smelly and were getting in the way of modern conveyances such as trolleys and cable cars. Bicycles, on the other hand, were a clean form of transportation, thus more preferable.

But the Parisians were wary of the new "bicyclettes," and nervous about riding the wobbly things. To encourage them to give it a try, the velocipede carousel was unveiled. Carousels were popular and fun and safe. Get Parisians to climb aboard a beloved carousel tricked out with pedals, and they would soon see how safe and fun riding a bicycle could be [source: Rohan]. Whether or not velocipede carousels truly helped move Parisians from the saddle to the, er, saddle, may not be known.But horses did disappear from the streets of Gay Paree, and Parisians did grow to love bicycles and bicycling. The country hosts the Tour de Franceevery year, after all, and it finishes along Paris' Champs-Élysées, probably the world's most famous avenue.

Just two velocipede carousels remain in the world today. One is in France, while the other is part of a traveling collection of vintage amusement park rides. The velocipede carousel in France resides at the Musée des Arts Forains (Museum of Fairground Arts) in Paris' Bercy neighborhood. The museum, opened in 1996, comprises a colorful jumble ofcarousels, carnival rides and games from the 1850 to 1930 time period. The beautifully restored pieces were collected by a man named Jean-Paul Favand; his collection is one of the largest such private collections in Europe. Luckily for the rest of us, Favand turned his collection into a museum so everyone could enjoy it. Even better, the rides in his collection aren't simply on display, they're still operative. So yes, if you head to the museum, you can pedal his 1885 velocipede carousel [sources: Thomas, Robertson]. Two interesting points about his velocipede carousel: while French carousels all run counterclockwise, this one runs clockwise because it was operated in Great Britain, where that direction was the norm.This velocipede carousel was also featured in the 2011 film "Midnight in Paris," directed by Woody Allen[source: Rohan].

The world's other remaining velocipede carousel is part of Fête Paradiso, a similar group ofvintage rides, carousels and various other carnival components. Frenchmen Francis Staub and Régis Masclet, rabid collectors of old carnival rides and art, purchased the pieces and came up with the idea of traveling around the world with them, reminiscent of the carnivals of yesteryear. Fête Paradiso was set up for several weeks at a time in various locales, beginning in 2013 [source: Rohan].

The copper-and-iron velocipede carousel in the Fête Paradiso collection was created in 1897 and used in the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, where the Eiffel Tower was also unveiled [sources: Nikola Tesla, a famous inventor known for his contributions to alternating current electricity, is said to have provided the engines for this particular velocipede carousel,which can move both forward and backward[source: Cohen]. At some point over the years, an electrical engine was added to the carousel, negating the need for feet to power it along. Today, however, that's the point of riding on it. Luckily, the engine can simply be turned off to allow it to once again be operated by people [source: Rohan].

In 2015, Fête Paradiso reportedly closed permanently, according to their Facebook page. The fate of its velocipede carousel is unknown.

While the velocipede carousel is unique in its incorporation of human power, other vintage amusement park rides are appealing simply because they're a bit different than what we typically see today. One example is Rowboat Swings. The Fête Paradiso collection contains some that date to the 1930s. This "ride" is basically a set of traditional swings, where one person pushes another. Instead of the swingers sitting in a bench, bucket or strap seat, however, they sit in a boat. Another vintage ride owned by Fête Paradiso is the Flying Chair. One version is pint-sized for kids, while another contains larger seats for adults. Unlike today's colorful, plastic seats, the vintage ride features posh red-velvet ones [source: Cohen].

Only six Caterpillars are still in existence today. This ride, found at most American amusement parks in the mid-20th century, features two-seater cars that run around a circular, undulating track. As the cars zip along the track, a canopy slowly envelops each one until all cars are covered. For those watching, the string of covered cars looks like a caterpillar inching along. To add to the fun, bursts of air would randomly puff into the cars to startle riders. Of the six Caterpillars left today, only three still have an operating canopy [source: Entertainment Designer].

An interesting vintage carnival game still in existence, also part of the Fête Paradiso collection, is the Music-Hall Ball Guzzler. This 1934 wonder consists of several hand-carved and hand-painted heads with mouths that open and close. The heads are caricatures of celebrities from that era, like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Their mouths are operated from behind, by hand. Players grab fake apples and try to chuck them into as many mouths as they can. In the past, if you got five in before the mouths shut, your reward was a bottle of wine. (The game was created in western France, not surprisingly) [sources: Rohan, Cohen].