Al G. Barnes Circus 1933/ Stake driver

The center poles are already up and the stake driver is in action. When the man pulls the handle two rollers meet, lifting the blade seen at the top. When he returns the handle to it's normal position the blade falls and a large metal block at the bottom of the blade slams into the wooden stake. Looks simple but it's a tricky piece of business, after a stake is driven the horses pull the wagon ahead to the next position, the man must pick up a new stake, raise the blade and insert the stake quickly and properly before the weight decends. Many a good man has had his shin cracked when the stake got kicked back at him. Buckles