Vehicle Description
In 1880, Charles Cretors opened his confections shop in Decatur,
Illinois where, practically from day-one, he displayed a gift for
showmanship and innovation. Charles cleverly arranged his shop so
his candy makers would be in the window, as to tempt passersby with
their delectable creations. In the late 1800s, roasted peanuts had
become a wildly popular and affordable snack, so Cretors decided
they would make a good complement to his confectionary offerings.
He purchased a steam-powered roaster which he was immediately
disappointed with. So, being the innovator he was, set out to
design and build a better one himself. His first roaster was built
in 1891 which he set up on the sidewalk outside of his shop. One
day, a traveling salesman named J.M. Savage stopped for a snack,
and as he admired the roaster, he figured he could sell lots of
them in his territory. Cretors of course agreed with Savage's idea
and C. Cretors and Company was suddenly on its way to success. By
1893, Cretors had invented a wheeled, steam-powered machine that
could simultaneously pop popcorn as well as roast coffee, chestnuts
and peanuts all with remarkable consistency and, of course, a dash
of showmanship. Aside from the novelty of the steam engine,
customers (especially the kiddies) would delight at the sight of
"Tosty-Rosty Man", a tiny mechanical clown magically turning the
drum of peanuts as they roasted. Customers could see corn popping
through the glass of the elaborately decorated carts, all the while
tempted by the delicious smells from every which way. In 1900,
Cretors introduced the first large, horse-drawn popcorn wagon known
as the Special. The special-series was beautifully crafted and
essentially hand-built to order, as Cretors always took great care
to meet the individual needs of his customers. The hand-crafted
nature of these wagons means that surviving examples have myriad of
detail differences, and collectors cherish them for their unique
character. It was with these larger horse-drawn wagons that Cretors
finally began to turn a healthy profit, and the company continued
to innovate and design new models to keep up with changing times.
In fact, Cretors is still proudly in business today, over 125 years
later. This 1909 Cretors Model C is a nicely restored example of
the iconic early 20th century popcorn wagon. It was originally
built for the Pacific C&B Co. of Seattle Washington and today
it is presented in a classic red and yellow livery, with
hand-striped details on the wheels, frame and body. The detailing
is delightful, with a rooftop decoration that seems inspired by a
Mississippi Riverboat. It is in wonderful condition throughout, and
has been discreetly updated with modern electric power so it can
still be used with ease at virtually any venue. The paint and
finish work is in fine condition, not over-restored but still very
nicely presented, grabbing your attention just as Charles Cretors
envisioned. Like the paint, the woodwork is in fine order
throughout and the windows feature original-style colored glass
signage, all in excellent condition. A pair of striped awnings
extends on either side, and even the original Tosty-Rosty Man can
still be seen in the window, turning his drum of peanuts.
Electricity now powers the wagon for ease of use, the modern-type
popcorn popper works as it should and interior and subtle exterior
lighting make this wagon great for evening events. As this is a
Model C, it is a smaller, more manageable size than its larger
siblings making transport and storage a breeze. This delightful
Cretors Model C is a wonderful period piece that would be welcome
in virtually any collection of antique equipment; yet it is fully
functional and can still be put to work for fairs, festivals or
parades. It is a charming piece of Americana, updated for modern
use and enjoyment.
