Documents 

Accompanied by over 400 color photographs, a guide to the art of the carousel, or merry-go-round, traces its development by describing style variations and identifiable features of carousel animals produced by the major American carving companies; and includes descriptions and illustrations of restoration techniques; advice on buying, shipping and insuring carousel animals, and a census of operating carousels in the United States and Canada. [WorldCat summary]

The imaginative, often bizarre decorations that enliven fairgrounds, amusement parks and carnivals have a never-ending appeal to the popular imagination. Stunning carved and painted carousel horses, sinister mechanical targets, terrifying rides and alluring freak show banners are among the many wildly ornamented devices that use sex, horror and humour to entice fairground visitors to sample their wares. Fairground Art is the first book ever to thoroughly reveal the fascinating history of this unique art form. Also chronicled are the little-known histories of the myriad craftsmen and artists who created these dynamic works. [editor summary]