Here's how they did it in the old days at a stand in Michigan about |
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
From Richard Flint #1
Posted by Buckles at 7/25/2007 09:31:00 AM
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Here's how they did it in the old days at a stand in Michigan about |
Posted by Buckles at 7/25/2007 09:31:00 AM
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11 comments:
This finely mustached gentleman looks more like Larry Allen Dean's great-great grandfather.
Hey Larry, we have to give the devil his due, and take our hat's off to this man. Can you imagine how hard it must have been to sign an autyigraff while leaning on a rifle? Wade Burck
Note the stagecoach style driver's seat, used as early as the 1850s on circus wagons, but never a very popular arrangement with circus horsemen. The removable cleanout board is laying at a diagonal; later they were often hinged. The wheels are 14 spoke, which further helps to de-myth the sixteen spoke allegations. The truss rod under the floor indicates the simplified box construction, necessitated by by the absence of sidewall construction, as in a closed body wagon. Now, what's that shallow box construction under the rear half of the wagon? Too shallow for a tank, perhaps is a sort of possum?
The "A" frame roof is a rather unusual design for a cage wagon. Was this specifically for this cage to give the gentleman more head room or would this have been a standard roof line back then?
Bob
What you are seeing as an "A-frame" roof are simply the upper side boards, hinged to fold upwards. You can see them as such in other photos, such as Lemen Bros. parade in the 1890s, and other shows. The lower side boards are resting in front of the wheels.
My only thoughts about the rifle was that if you shot a tiger that big and DIDN"T kill it with that first shot you'd never get out alive !
And as far as signing autygrafs, I think wearing a print dress like that would really make me too shy.
And what's that guy doing under the wagon ?
A very interesting photograph,to say the least.
OK, that makes sense now. Thanks.
Bob
Looks like a staged photo,business end of the rife against the floor(not good with dirt and cage droppings to plug up it up) and the guy in a dress showing off his leg. Maybe a postcard to send home to mom???
Still a fine photo of an early example of a overland cage. Possum belly for a few extra stakes or single trees maybe. Funny not to see any bull rings on the front corners of this wagon.
As a first and last generation circus performer, I don't suppose this gent was a long lost relative; generations back have been railroad workers, optomitrists and jewelers.
Besides, the only reason I'd carry a gun in that situation would be to shoot any varmints that tried to approach the cage and disturb my cats!
Shoot Larry, the dress is what made me think Buckles might be right about it being your great-great grandfather. Wade Burck
It isn't the dress as much as that horrid print !
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