They don’t make ’em like they used to, so it’s said.
In the case of the transportation-themed carousel Barrett-Jackson will be auctioning off in Scottsdale in mid-January, that’s true – but it’s also amazing they were ever made it at all.
Manufactured by Wilhelm Hennecke of Germany in 1957 especially for the annual Christmas market in Heidelberg, this piece of mechanical art. features old-world craftsmanship which is second to none.
Displayed at a number of other Christmas markets after turning itself and turning heads in Heidelberg, this car carousel eventually found its way into climatized storage where it remained until being discovered by a private collector.
Thirty-two feet in diameter and 16-feet tall, the carousel houses 23 vehicles around its flower-shaped centerpiece. Covered with lights, mirrors and four hand-carved wooden figures playing musical instruments, the centerpiece is a piece of art unto itself.
As for the vehicles, they include a Mercedes-Benz fire truck, an Opel convertible, four Vespa-style scooters, six German bicycles, six Sach’s 50cc motorcycles, and a Mercedes 190. All are made of wood with leather interiors and come complete with working headlights and taillights.
Lit by more than 1,500 six-watt light bulbs, the top of the carousel is covered in illustrations by Fritz Baumgarten from the German children’s book Summer in the Enchanted Forest.
Crossing the block courtesy of Barrett-Jackson at their Scottsdale auction from January 12-20, the carousel, which is in good shape and only required minimal restorations, is being offered with no reserve.
A car carousel manufactured by Wilhelm Hennecke of Germany in 1957. (Barrett-Jackson)For more information on the sale or to register to bid, please visit Barrett-Jackson’s website.
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