The History of Flatcar # 57
This flatcar is a 72 ft. Warren design flat. It was purchased from World of Mirth Shows on September 21, 1964 by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. While on the World of Mirth Shows it was numbered # 24.
The actual origin of the car is only speculation. Built by the Warren Tank Car Co. sometime between 1928 and 1937, it has been documented that the Bernardi Greater Shows later changed the name to World of Mirth. Bernardi Greater Shows bought new 72’ Warrens in 1926/1927. World of Mirth then ordered five new 72’ Warrens in 1936. The Jess Adkins and Zack Terrell owned Cole Bros. Circus ordered six new Warrens in 1937. They also bought three from the Sam Gumpertz era of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Other shows that were known to have sold the train cars that eventully ended up on Cole Bros. Circus included S.W. Brundage Shows, Dodson Shows, and 101 Ranch which had their cars come from the defunct King Bros., Gentry Bros. and 1929 Cole Bros. World Toured Circus.
Upon it’s acquisition for the Circus Train, the car was refurbished and repainted Orange with Purple letters, a White Outline and Black Shading. It was titled 101 Ranch Real Wild West. The other side was Orange Body with Red Lettering and White Shading. It was lettered Robbins Bros. 3 Ring Circus with Hoot Gibson, the Screen’s Most Popular Star.
In 1990, the car was repainted with a Silver base and an orange body inside the outer steel frame of the Gunwales with Black lettering titled W.W. Cole’s Great New York & New Orleans Zoological Exposition. This paint scheme remained as such through 1996.
This flatcar is a 72 ft. Warren design flat. It was purchased from World of Mirth Shows on September 21, 1964 by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. While on the World of Mirth Shows it was numbered # 24.
The actual origin of the car is only speculation. Built by the Warren Tank Car Co. sometime between 1928 and 1937, it has been documented that the Bernardi Greater Shows later changed the name to World of Mirth. Bernardi Greater Shows bought new 72’ Warrens in 1926/1927. World of Mirth then ordered five new 72’ Warrens in 1936. The Jess Adkins and Zack Terrell owned Cole Bros. Circus ordered six new Warrens in 1937. They also bought three from the Sam Gumpertz era of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Other shows that were known to have sold the train cars that eventully ended up on Cole Bros. Circus included S.W. Brundage Shows, Dodson Shows, and 101 Ranch which had their cars come from the defunct King Bros., Gentry Bros. and 1929 Cole Bros. World Toured Circus.
Upon it’s acquisition for the Circus Train, the car was refurbished and repainted Orange with Purple letters, a White Outline and Black Shading. It was titled 101 Ranch Real Wild West. The other side was Orange Body with Red Lettering and White Shading. It was lettered Robbins Bros. 3 Ring Circus with Hoot Gibson, the Screen’s Most Popular Star.
In 1990, the car was repainted with a Silver base and an orange body inside the outer steel frame of the Gunwales with Black lettering titled W.W. Cole’s Great New York & New Orleans Zoological Exposition. This paint scheme remained as such through 1996.
Note: I don't have a picture of this paint scheme. If anyone has one and would like to share it with me please email me. Bob Cline - fivetiger@shtc.net
The car was then repainted again in 1997. It was a Blue car with White letters and a Bright Red Outline titled Col. Tim McCoy’s Wild West. An Indian Headdress in red and Blue was in a White circle at each end of the car also. This paint scheme remained through the last Milwaukee parade in 2003. It is stored inside the Train sheds of the Circus World Mu
No comments:
Post a Comment