John Robinson calliope

There was some discussion a few days ago on the Circus Historical Society's Question and Answer board about the John Robinson calliope. This slide was taken in Chicago. There was a Chicago Railroad Fair that was held from 1948 through 1949. Could this have been the taken at nearly the same time? A good friend has identified landmarks in the background putting this in Chicago. The two previous Senhauser wagons in parade were all taken at the same time. The little bit of history I have was given to me compliments of the Joe Bradbury files.

This recorded file says the wagon was built by Bode wagon works in 1917. ( That is disputed now ). It was on the John Robinson Circus from 1918 to 1922. During the years of 1923 and 1924, it was kept stored at the Peru, IN. winter quarters. During the winter of 1924 / 1925, it was sold to Floyd and Howard King. The calliope was on their Walter L. Main Circus in 1925 to 1927. In 1928, it went out with their Gentry Bros. Circus. It was on the Gentry Show again in 1929 until the Gentry Show went Bankrupt.

It was then sold to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Now if you'll go to http://www.circushistory.org/Query.htm then find question # 2783, as Paul Harvey says, you can get the "Rest of the Story".

Added to all this is the fact that this calliope did indeed leave the Museum on several occassions for parades and charitable events. Sadly, the entire circus wagon collection at the Henry Ford Museum is stored in a warehouse and has been for several years now.