Carousel horses come galloping to auction

Two horses from an 1880s travelling carousel imported from England in the 1950s by South Australian Derek Williams will be a highlight of auctioning Steve Graham’s forthcoming auction from 10am on Sunday March 15 at 64 Urquhart Street, Woodend.

Apparently the carousel (complete with original steam engine) was dismantled for the journey from England and, once here, Derek and his associates had trouble re-assembling it.

They eventually found someone who had worked on travelling carousels but, because he had a criminal record, Derek refused to employ him.

The carousel horses languished in a shed for many years before the current vendor purchased three of the original six from Derek Williams’ family in Exeter, South Australia.

The auction contains a comprehensive range of items including 16^th century Japanese swords, a 1902 United States military staff sword and scabbard, Australian army bayonets and daggers, model military aircraft, tank and submarine, and military books.

Old oil bottles and tins, a Michelin man illuminated sign and a 1942 Harley Davidson motorcycle are among other interesting items – along with a 1970s child Vespa, pedal cars and a 1960s mechanical life-size Goofy figure.

For collectors the football cards, cigarette cards and Warner Bros cartoon cells from the 1950s and 1960s should intrigue, while there also is a collection of hand coloured slides.

Interesting are the Australian colonial convict collectables including ankle and neck manacles, death warrant, ticket of leave and mining items.