Apr 21st, 2017: Cretors' Wagon

[xoxoxoBruce]

Popcorn, Peanuts, but no Crackerjacks from Charles Cretors’ hand-drawn vending cart at the 1893
Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He proved a mobile vendor could do as well or better than a storefront.

His first horse-drawn Cretors wagon debuted around 1900, and it mechanized much of the process.
The small steam engine, which rotated the roasting drum, was put in the window, where it amused
both the young and old alike. The Model A sidewalk wagon, introduced in 1905, put these principles
into a more maneuverable package for smaller spaces and had some unique features.

A Cretors No. 1 horizontal steam engine stirred the popcorn, and, when engaged by a clutch, operated
the peanut roaster. This was similar to other Cretors wagons, but unique to the Model A was a red-and
-white roller curtain extension awning. A gum and candy case over the peanut roasting cylinder allowed
for the sale of more products, thus broadening the customer base. A 500 candlepower hollow-wire
gasoline lantern, with inverted mantle, lit up the stand at night. There was also a swiveling auxiliary
gas torch on the engine bed plate, which acted as a “flashlight” of the period. The glass all around was
French plate beveled glass.

All for $975 in 1918

Robert Pearson of Pearson & Company, the Cretors registrar, reports that only five Model A Sidewalk
wagons survive. The most deluxe of hand-drawn vending wagons, the Model A cost three times the price
of a basic model. In contrast to the larger Cretors wagons, the Model A is much smaller and easier to
maneuver; the operator stands beside it, not inside. Fully operational, it is ready to roast, pop, and
serve all.

The owner of this wagon spent 20 years lovingly and accurately restoring this wagon to its original glory
with original parts. He died and his widow put it up for auction. COUGHbitchCOUGH. Sold for $60,500.

link

[BigV]

the steam engine is a perfect jewel~!

[Pi]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

The owner of this wagon spent 20 years lovingly and accurately restoring this wagon to its original glory
with original parts. He died and his widow put it up for auction. COUGHbitchCOUGH. Sold for $60,500.

Best thing to do. What should she do with that thing her husband poured so much energy, time and money into?
Keep it and not touching, maintain, repair and hide it?
Wait until she dies and the children's partner's ex-partner's cousin wants it's share and the lawyers get involved.
I guess only a true fan would pay that much money for the wagon and he/she certainly knows how to take care of the wagon...

[Griff]

Oh that's nice!

[Snakeadelic]

Somebody more car-savvy and into cop thriller classic films should do a proper write-up on a recent headline...

A man bought an old white Mustang at a Mexican junkyard. Couple hundred bucks, tops. He was planning to have it customized into Eleanor from "Gone in 60 Seconds" (shudder...but I'm not a big Cage or Jolie fan). Then he ran the VIN number.

It's being restored, all right, as of LAST MONTH, but not into Eleanor. No, it's going back to its original green because it is the missing "Bullitt" Mustang they've been trying to track down for FORTY-NINE YEARS. Apparently, Steve McQueen tried to buy the other green Mustang used in shooting back from a museum not long before his death and was turned down.

Hopefully whoever's restoring it does the kind of job that was done on the popcorn wagon! That is truly gorgeous.