Yes, I believe the gondolas did spin via a hand wheel (I did ride this wheel once a long time ago).
If you look closely at the picture just under the chain you can see the wheel that was used to turn the gondola. I believe Reithoffer’s Dutch Wheel used to do the same thing? This wheel looked very similar to Reithoffer’s…
Ok so what is the difference between this wheel, Reithoffer’s and the one Conklin used to have? I know Reithoffer’s was built by Kroon and Conklin was built by I believe the same manufacture as Deggellers old wheel? All 3 looked very similar, though Conklin’s did have different looking gondolas.
Also, who is the manufacturer of Strates and RCS’s giant wheels? They both have the enclosed structure vs. the open structure of these.