For Sale: 1916 Cretors Model D in St. Louis, Missouri

Few names are as synonymous with the popcorn industry as Cretors, a firm whose innovations helped transform a simple snack into a cornerstone of American leisure culture. Founded in the late 19th century by Charles Cretors in Chicago, the company revolutionized street concessions with the introduction of the first commercially successful steam-powered popcorn machine. By the early 1900s, Cretors wagons had become fixtures at fairs, parks, and city streets nationwide, drawing crowds with the irresistible aroma and theatrical appeal of freshly popped corn.

The Model D represented one of the firm's more substantial and visually engaging offerings of the period, combining ornate craftsmanship with reliable steam-powered operation. The present example, dating to 1916, retains its original steam power plant and popper pans, an increasingly rare level of authenticity among surviving wagons. Its polished metalwork, glass panels, and period detailing reflect the golden age of mobile concessions, when presentation was as important as product.

This wagon benefits from an older restoration that has mellowed gracefully, continuing to present with strong visual appeal while retaining a sense of authenticity appropriate to its age. It has been preserved in indoor conditions, remaining on display at the St. Louis Car Museum since August 2017.

Accompanied by a significant collection of ownership history and provenance, the wagon is known to have operated for many years in Southern California, an environment closely associated with the rise of cinema culture, where popcorn became an enduring staple. Restoration documentation is included, further supporting its history and care over time.
Offered on a bill of sale, the wagon is accompanied by an optional faux horse, providing an evocative and complete period display suitable for exhibition or presentation.

Now celebrating an impressive 110 years since its construction, this 1916 Cretors Model D stands as a rare and charismatic artifact of early American entrepreneurship and entertainment culture, an opportunity to acquire a fully realized example from the very company that defined an industry.