Buckles Blog: Sparks Circus 1930-31 #13

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

An unknown party wrote on the back:
"The last trace of the old Sparks Circus. One of the typical short wagons on this show. Sarasota July 1945.

Anonymous said...: I think this is a Barnes wagon,built by Red Forbes for the 38' tour. Wagon was later restored by McKenon and the other Ringling volunteers for the great Backlot Display.; 10 April, 2007 11:12
Anonymous said...: Looks like my place. Except I do have lace curtains.; 10 April, 2007 12:28
Anonymous said...: Yes, this was built by Forbes for the 1938 Barnes show. It took the number 24 when it replaced one of the two water wagons. Forbes undertook a major rebuilding of the Barnes wagons after the Corporation acquired the show in 1928 since the equipment was then a little worse for wear even thought Barnes was one of the first showmen to upgrade his rail equipment to the new steel cars in 1921. Forbes work is distinguished by the exterior channel bracing and the use of narrow boards on the side of each wagon. It was probably the last circus wagon built with spoke wheels and is now at the Ringling Museum, one of five Barnes baggage wagons there.
Dick Flint
Baltimore; 10 April, 2007 19:59
Anonymous said...: Hello Mr Flint,
The only other spoke wheel wagon I can think of is the new calliope built in the Cole Bros. shops for the 39' tour. Of course they did use carvings from the Louella Forpaugh Fish Sullivan & Eagle wagon and a Ringling cage. This wagon also had a short history, as it was lost in the Rochester fire in Feb. of 1940.
regards,
P.J.Holmes; 27 April, 2007 09:29

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