Looking for any info available on this vintage photo. The photo is approximately 6” x 5” and appears to be a legitimate photograph. Unfortunately, it is glued to a piece of cardboard so I can’t access the back of the paper. There is a sign in the upper left that reads ‘??? this wheel at your own risk’, and I thought there was another faint sign somewhere in the photo about a fair, but now I can’t see it.
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„ride“. If you look closely, and start with the assumption that it‘s ride, you can see it‘s „ride this wheel at your own risk“. I‘m wondering about the platform their riding on. It‘s clearly higher in the center, but why?
I wonder if the whole thing could be made to spin, when riding on it… it just kinda looks that way, but I don‘t see any hard evidence for this in the picture. The reflections on it could be interpreted this way, but this could as well be a coincidence.
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I’ll bet it spins.
People would pile on and the wheel would start slowly and then gradually pick up speed to throw all off. Last one on wins.
I’ll bet the talented carnies combined their riding skills with this wheel to put on another show.
Riding at different speeds (wheel and rider),the combined mechanics could display some unnatural visuals for the spectator.
Just my guess.
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Looks similar to the Coney Island Human Roulette Wheel.
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Oh, I didn’t even think of the possibility of it being self-propelled. I thought it could possibly spin due to the impulse of the riders. But your suggestion would make for a really interesting ride, underlining the warning words - “ride this wheel at your own risk”. Man, I’d love to ride such a thing (ok, I guess I could try not to UPD when idling in a moving train. I actually did, recently, with no success).