Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Aug.3, 1927 Christy Bros. #2


Aug.3, 1927 Christy Bros. #3, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The canopy is about the only original piece left on this wagon. The remainder is a replica fabricated by Disney. Note the dark body color, not the anemic white.

Anonymous said...

Dear Anonymous,

Are you sure? I would like to hear from some of our other circus historians regarding the history of the Swan Bandwagon...to where it is now at CWM.

Anonymous said...

In the past, I rode and played on the swan band wagon with the Frank Van Epps Sauk County circus band, with Merle and he said that that was the frst time that he had every sat under the canopy, but he had rode the wagon many times.
Bob Kitto

Anonymous said...

Actually, the canopy was re-built around 1978-1980 by Tim Perkins of the CWM wagon shop. Many of the original carvings from this wagon are on display in the Fox Restoration building at Baraboo. The complete body was replaced with plywood by Disney, along with the replacing of most of the carvings.
Flint

Anonymous said...

Swan was on Ringling 1904-1911; stored in Baraboo 1912-1926; Christy Bros. 1927-1930; stored in South Houston 1930-1936; Ken Maynard 1936; then United Tent & Awning, Dave Bradley and Disney c1936-c1962. When would Merle have ridden it?

Anonymous said...

Sorry, it beats me when Merle rode the wagon, but that is what I remember him saying. Like most of us, maybe I just thought he said that wagon, but I got the impression that he really did ride it at some time.
Bob Kitto