Meet "Quigga" the Quagga, an extinct Zebra from Africa with "Katook" the Lemur

The Albany Carousel Carving and Painting Studio

     Albany's Brass Ring carousel studio is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to building a traditional Victorian carousel in Albany's downtown historical district.  This project is funded through donations, grants and fundraising activities.  All animals, carousel parts and various other items are available for "sponsorship", which is currently the main source of funding for the carousel..  
   This carousel project began in 2002.  Carving officially started on June 7, 2003.  This project is estimated to take 7 to 10 years to complete.  All work is being done by hand with volunteers of all skill levels.  No experience is necessary and all volunteers are welcomed.  Volunteers are needed for all phases of the project, including carvers, painters, sanders, fundraising organizers and people willing to help with restoring the mechanism.
  The carousel mechanism is a 1909 Dentzel machine, possibly the last made by Gustave Dentzel.  The National Carousel Association and the William Dentzel family of Santa Barbara, California donated the mechanism to The Brass Ring in Albany, Oregon with the dream of seeing it restored to its glory.  There will be a menagerie of animals, totaling more than 54, (check our photo gallery to see the progress of the bear, cat, salmon and others) all hand carved and hand painted in the traditional style of Dentzel and Muller.  The animals and carousel decorative pieces are being carved from basswood with hand tools.
    The carving studio is located at "503 First Avenue West" in downtown Albany.  We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm (and Wednesday nights until 9 pm) or by appointment.
   Volunteers and visitors are always welcome.  We even have a volunteer carver (Barb) who comes from Montana several times a year to share her carving skills with us.  So come in and meet the carvers and painters and check out their progress.  Lead carver, Jack Giles can get you started carving or stop by and make use of the carving skills you already have.
Interested in painting, come in and meet the lead painter, Gwenn Marchese and her crew of dedicated painters.  They can show you the technique for painting carousel animals. 
  Catch the community spirit and become a part of Albany's heritage.  Visit, call or send an email to become a carousel volunteer.
   Click on the Photo Gallery button on the upper tool bar to view our progress and check back often for updated photos as these animals approach completion.



These are the colorized drawings of some of our carousel animals. 

(Double click on any photo to begin slide show)