dccradio
  •  dccradio
  • 60.54% (Friendly)
  • Ride Supervisor Topic Starter
Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:40:49 AM
In May, my wife and I visited Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI. On the lot was an old Royal American Shows Wagon #420. I was just curious if anyone here knew the history of this car or what it was used for just for curiosity's sake.

http://travel.webshots.c...78802JLqeZD?vhost=travel 
Mark H
Larry Smith
Saturday, January 3, 2009 10:16:51 AM
Good question. All the RAS lists I have go up to only #400. Looks like it might be an office of some form....
Scott
  •  Scott
  • 87% (Honored)
  • Operations Foreman
Saturday, January 3, 2009 12:05:39 PM
thumper7973
Saturday, January 3, 2009 3:09:52 PM
Computer Wagon is correct until computers got smaller .

It was later converted. The front became my office and I became known as the ticket nazi. LOL I did the show ID's and distributed show shirts in the mornings , after opening I would start that huge ol' shredder up and shred the tickets from the previous night. At closing the tickets were "weighed" for the count. If you were an independent you got a "requisition slip" to turn in the following day at 440 wagon between 2pm and 5pm for your money. If you didn't not pick up your money we came after you.

In the back we had a store room where all the extra forms , t-shirts and supplies were kept.
GO GATORS ! 2008 BCS National "Chomp-ions" !

It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies- Arthur Calwell
Benjibear
Saturday, January 3, 2009 5:51:36 PM
Wow, a whole wagon for computer equipment. What era was that?

Just interesting that today shows won't even keep an updated web site but RAS carried a computer wagon I guess before powerful desktop computers.
It is what you learn, after you know it all, that counts.
RRSHOW1
  •  RRSHOW1
  • 57.26% (Neutral)
  • Maintenance Supervisor
Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:28:56 PM
It was originally built in the '40s as a radar trailer (not sure if it was Navy or Army) and bought as surplus. The show had 10 or so of these wagons, as well as Strates & Ringling. They were 20' long and were built by Fruehauf. It was used for show equipment (I can't remember right now - maybe the Harlem Show)then renumbered & rebuilt as the IBM wagon in the late 60's-early 70's. It contained a punch-card writer (a huge machine back then) and all ride information was punched in & sent off to a central computer to be analyzed and results printed out. An IBM 360 cost over a million dollars back then & businesses only rented time on one. They were smaller versions on the type you see in old science fiction films, with lights blinking, etc. They did not use CRT (TV type screens) & all data was contained in punch cards.

The sparks wagon #32 was built for the 1947 sparks Circus & sold in 1948 to the Clyde Beatty Circus (railroad). It was later sold to Strates in 1957-58 and was numbered #4 on that show for years. It was used to carry wire in the early 70's, then oil for the generators. I re-numbered it #12 (to fit its length) & repainted it myself in 1975 while we were in Savannah, Ga. I know I must have posted a pic or two of it.
dccradio
  •  dccradio
  • 60.54% (Friendly)
  • Ride Supervisor Topic Starter
Sunday, January 4, 2009 2:55:46 AM
Thanks for the information, I find it interesting to know the history behind the equipment that Circus World has on display.
Mark H
skywheel88
Sunday, January 4, 2009 9:04:19 AM
The ticket nazi! LOL![:D][:D][:D]
Kenny.

thumper7973
Sunday, January 4, 2009 10:03:10 AM
Hey Jim so you remember that great big ol' IBM computer on the show... and all those punch cards.

It was huge !!! And the interior was carpeted , floor , walls , ceiling, had to keep it real cool inside. So everybody wore a sweater when they were in there.

And I agree it was like a mini sci-fi movie.
GO GATORS ! 2008 BCS National "Chomp-ions" !

It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies- Arthur Calwell
swooper
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 6:46:07 AM
Quote:

Originally posted by thumper7973

Hey Jim so you remember that great big ol' IBM computer on the show... and all those punch cards.

It was huge !!! And the interior was carpeted , floor , walls , ceiling, had to keep it real cool inside. So everybody wore a sweater when they were in there.

And I agree it was like a mini sci-fi movie.


here is a photo of 420 on the road.

http://community.webshot...218128810049875691bYCsLO 

thumper7973
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 9:02:00 AM
Thanks swooper !
GO GATORS ! 2008 BCS National "Chomp-ions" !

It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies- Arthur Calwell
dccradio
  •  dccradio
  • 60.54% (Friendly)
  • Ride Supervisor Topic Starter
Friday, January 9, 2009 4:52:09 PM
Thanks for the information, and thanks for the picture Swooper. When was that picture taken? It was nice to see a picture of the wagon on the lot.
Mark H
The Mayor
Monday, February 9, 2009 2:28:33 PM
In 1968 a new Concessions Office was built. It replaced # 400, a 20' ex-USAAF Radar wagon. The # for the new Concessions office was # 400 - it was a 30' wagon. With the "old 20' # 400" not being used, it was renumbered to # 420 Computers. It had 3 windows on each side of the wagon. This wagon was # 420 Computers for one year - 1968. From 1974 thru 1977 this wagon was Lot Office # 220.

In 1969 # 360 Sound Equipment wagon became available as its contents went to # 71 wagon, a 21 footer. This # 360 wagon was then renumbered to # 420 Computers. This # 420 had 2 windows on each side, and the possum belly had a different profile. This was also an ex-USAAF Radar wagon.

In 1978 wagon # 196 - former Wild Mouse Iron - was rebuilt with solid walls, a door and windows with 3 different sections inside - Press Office, Mail, and Tickets. It was numbered # 136 and used through 1981.

Wagon #'s 400/420 and 360/420 are now at Circus World Museum.
circusguy
Monday, February 9, 2009 3:12:07 PM
Wagon # 136 is at Gibtown Museum.