Brass ring

The general concept of obtaining rings while riding carousels originates from ring jousting competitions in Europe in the 17th century. Carousels were first developed during the late 17th century to allow participants in these competitions to practice ring jousting without overworking their horses. They were meant to encourage carousel riders to sit on the outermost row of carousel animals, which were often stationary. While a carousel is in motion, riders on the outermost row can grab rings dispensed from a wooden arm suspended near them. To discourage riders from keeping these rings as souvenirs, images such as clown's mouths and lion's mouths are placed as targets adjacent to the carousel at which the rider's rings can be thrown. Most rings are iron or steel, but one or two per ride are made of brass; if a rider manages to grab a brass ring, it can often be redeemed for a free ride. ==Brass ring carousels today==

Although there are many carousels in operation today, those that still use brass ring dispensers are very rare. The need for carousel riders to position themselves at wide angles to reach for rings from a ring dispensing arm often leads to lost balance and falls off of the ride, leading to personal injury lawsuits and hence their avoidance by most modern operators. ==Cultural references==

"Grab the brass ring," "reach for the brass ring," and similar phrases are metaphors for seeking the highest prize (especially a championship ring in sports) or living life to the fullest. This is exemplified by the annual Brass Ring Awards presented by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) to recognize achievements in the worldwide amusement industry. It is not clear when the term brass ring used in this context came into wide use, but it has been found in dictionaries since the late 19th century. The term has also been used in multiple book titles. Usage of the brass ring term and its symbolism can be found in numerous forms of media, including the last chapter of the 1951 book The Catcher in the Rye, when Phoebe, the sister of Holden Caulfield, reaches for a brass ring while riding a carousel. The brass ring is symbolic of adulthood, the transition to which is a preoccupation of Holden throughout the book. The term is also present in music, such as the Four Seasons' 1967 song "Beggin'." It contains the line "now that big brass ring is a shade of black," a reference to missing an important opportunity. The brass ring term also exists in film, specifically during the climax of the 1992 film Sneakers, in which all of the main characters have the opportunity to receive anything they want in exchange for handing over a crucial piece of technology to the US National Security Agency. When River Phoenix's character requests something with no monetary value, he is admonished by Robert Redford's character to think bigger, as "this is the brass ring." This term was also used in television-broadcast professional wrestling when Tyson Kidd and Cesaro of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) formed an official alliance in 2015, calling themselves the "Brass Ring Club." ==References==