Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Al G. Barnes Circus 1935 #5



For some reason I get the feeling that this picture was also taken in winter quarters.
The tent doesn't look the right size to be the menagerie and appears to be badly in need of repair. Posted by Picasa

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seeing all the beautiful working elephants makes me think of "SUE" and all the other elephants being wasted in Tenn. I would love to see all of them working again or becoming mothers. How very cruel to keep them away from the people who really cared for and about them. Keeping them on REMEDYS in order to control them is more cruel than any tool the trainers ever used. Their great minds are being controled because their keepers can not control their wonderful, powerful bodys. And Tenn has a group just to fund raise for the "REMEDYS"

Anonymous said...

"Watchful eyes have noticed a small tear"

Anonymous said...

For those who love the study of canvas--what stitch would you use to patch up this top? I've heard arguments for canvasmen's favorites. What's yours?

Buckles said...

Baseball Stitch!

Anonymous said...

I don't know what it was called but it looked like the lacing on a baseball when were done.
Bob Cline

Anonymous said...

Sail maker. Is this what the man sewing the canvas was called. I still have a couple of very large curved needles. I don't remember if they were for repairing canvas or leather. A feather stitch come to mind.

Anonymous said...

In England the stitch was called "herringbone" to repaire any rips in the canvas.

Casey McCoy Cainan said...

Rebecca I dont think I know you but I couldn't agree more. It is a crying shame they are wasting away with no mental stimulis. I wanted to work elephants because of photos like these and because a wise old man told me when I was younger "two elephants and a snatch block and you could pull christ off the cross". In my eyes nothing beats a good harness elephant.

Anonymous said...

None of you has mentioned a "Palm" and I'm not referring to the tropical tree nor to the Barnes elephant of the same name, but to the device you held in your hand to shield it from the end of the needle while you were sewing canvas. Ree-Gards Ole Whitey

Anonymous said...

Two bits to splice rope.
I saved enough money replacing bigtop ropes. Returning from the hardware store that day I ran over and showed the canvas boss my purchases, a wooden splice spike and some sewing supplies. He asked if I was a south paw? I said no. He chuckled and walked away. I soon discovered there are right handed and left handed palms.

Anonymous said...

I took a round piece, actually two pieces,of leather, stitched them together and cut a hole for my thumb. I was poor.

Anonymous said...

The only CUPS I slipped out of was while doing WEB. I have been trying to find a web site to show different stitching on canvas and leather. I made a sampler of different stitches used in embrodery and thought it might show the herringbone and feather stitch. Can't find the dam thing.

Anonymous said...

My late friend, Old Pop, told me he was on a show badly in need of canvas repair. He sidled up to the boss and asked if he wanted the Big Top patched. Indeed, he was told, but he had no one who knew how. Pop asked, "What do you want, cross-stitch or herringbone?" "Why, herringbone, of course," came the reply. The next morning, Pop stitched all the rips with herringbone and won a job for the season. OK, you of the present generation--can you take your palm and sew canvas?

Anonymous said...

Dutchess: From what you've been telling me, you've been in your cups ever since.

Not that you're any worse than I am.

Anonymous said...

At least I use a cup, Roger. No brown bags yet.

Anonymous said...

Roger, God is going to get you for that crack. And you can count your blessing its him and not me. Lov ya little guy

Anonymous said...

I found the two different stitches on the computer. Just type in Herringbone Stitch and Feather Stitch. It was the feather stitch I used on my skivies. I stitched more of them than I did a big top canvas.