Saturday, January 30, 2010

Hagenbeck-Wallace out front #3


SAVE2390, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Posted by Buckles at 1/30/2010 06:11:00 AM

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This ex-Great Wallace vehicle was the most decorated of all ticket wagons. Mugivan and Bowers used it in their parades after acquiring it from Col. Ben Wallace.

30 January, 2010 08:50
Richard Reynolds said...

Of all the wagons burned up at Peru circa 1940, this one was by far the worst loss - - in my opinion.

I think a fan or two tried to buy some of those wagons before they went to the torch but RBBB would not hear of it.

They did save a few that were sent later to Sarasota, e.g. Five Graces.

30 January, 2010 12:54
Anonymous said...

Reportedly northing could be spared the flames. Rather than to pay taxes, requiring cash not in hand, "asset rich" RBBB was made to divest itself of valuable properties. North apparently got the IRS to accept high values for the defunct railroad circus stuff in Peru. So, with the wagon flames reaching high, the tax indebtedness of the John Ringling estate was, at least in part, extinguished. That's why nothing could be spared, it was a negotiated settlement with the feds. Chalmer Condon and others who braved the bitter weather to document the destruction must have been stricken with disappointment, not even a wheel crossed the fenceline to their hands.

30 January, 2010 17:08
Anonymous said...

This photo was taken in Rockford,IL on 8-27-1932 and the gentleman on the right is Joe Taggart one of the very early circus model builders. He also built a quarter size spec wagon for RBB&B in the 40's.

HW photo #6 was also taken in Rockford on the same date.
Bob Kitto

31 January, 2010 16:12

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