The F.W. Mangels Company Shooting Gallery is located inside the Sandy Chanty on The Strip. It was “rediscovered” during a renovation project that removed the wall built over the gallery to better use the space. Amazingly, with a little cleaning and lubrication, the gallery powered up.
This is one of the finest extant examples of a shooting gallery from the golden age of American amusement parks. And it was made by a company/inventor whose name is synonymous with amusement park rides/attractions.
Many of these beautiful galleries were lost to the wartime scrap-metal drive. Others were dismantled for the decorative value of the targets, which bear the marks of having been shot at with 22-caliber ammunition.
It’s important to note that this ammunition was manufactured specifically for the shooting galleries. When the owners of this gallery learned that the manufacturer planned to soon discontinue the product they had purchased, they purchased a large stock. Insurance issues forced the gallery to close before the stock could be exhausted.
A letter from the W.F. Mangels Company, Carousell Works, Coney Island, NY, addressed to Messrs. Pera & Pera, and dated May 4, 1938, recently surfaced. The letter, signed by W.F. Mangels, sets forth quotes for two used shooting galleries. It appears that the one installed by the Peras was $450. You can download a pdf of this letter.
Address
5457 Lake Rd. E.
Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH 44041
