The Ross R. Davis Merry-Go-Round shop

Ross R. Davis' Merry-Go-Round Shop

The Ross R. Davis Merry-Go-Round shop, located at 5210 Alhambra Avenue, Los Angeles, California, circa 1949. The sign at top reads: Open Daily; Visit The Merry-Go-Round; Lincoln Park; 2 miles (with an arrow pointing to the right). The small addition jutting out and next to the large loading door is a small toilet area. Notice the merry-go-round equipment stacked in the front yard area. To the right and next to the building is Herbert Vincent's 1936 Plymouth; the 1939 Dodge further to the right belonged to Ray Thomas.

Merry-go-round ticket booth designed by Herbert Vincent (at right) for the Lincoln Park and Griffith Park carousels. Ross R. Davis is visible seated inside the booth and is facing forward. Tickets were preferred over nickels because coins were often dropped and easily lost between the floor panels of the carousel.

Herbert Vincent and Ray Thomas working on a large Ruth band organ.

Herbert Vincent and Ray Thomas, circa the mid 1950s, working on a large band organ (the photograph attribution states this to be a Ruth organ. However, Mr. Fred Dahlinger has identified this organ as a 65-key Gavioli modified to use Wurlitzer 165 music rolls for Ross Davis and that played at Disneyland, then went to Bud Hurlbut and is now in the Gilson collection. The story of this organ is presented in the Carousel Organ Association of America (COAA) journal "Carousel Organ," #27, April 2006.). Herbert and Ray were working on this very organ when this author first met Herbert Vincent in 1954. Notice the Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina standing idle in the background.

Herbert Vincent admiring the Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina in his shop for restoration.

Herbert Vincent is shown admiring a Hupfeld Model B Phonoliszt-Violina in his workshop for restoration, circa the mid 1950s. The machine features a reproducing piano and three violins played by a rotating horsehair bow, which are housed in the circular compartment at the top center of the furniture cabinet. On one of this author's visits, just days before the Hupfeld was to be shipped out, Mr. Vincent happily demonstrated the restored machine. It performed beautifully and very expressively, and it was the first instrument of this type that this author had heard.

The wooden stairs at the right of the Hupfeld lead up to the second floor storage area, which is partially visible above and behind the Phonoliszt-Violina.