Well fellow Hambers another clown car has been found.I hope Texaco doesnt see this,they may want it for thier next nationwide ad campaign.Dig the Texaco made from scratch and welded above the rear edge of the car.Also I love that decal in the windshield,does anyone know who that is?This baby has been hid from daylight for ever!I hope the pics are good enough to see, some are dark and its hard for an old dog to learn this COMP-uter-stuff.
That's Ed Wynn, a comedian from the days of vaudeville. I think he passed away in the '80s. Let's hear more about the car. History? I wonder if Texaco was a sponsor for a TV show that he was on.
Some clown cars are not exciting. This one was a Shrine Circus Clown Car. They cut off the windshield and there was no body behind the cowl. Yuck. I have repaired the windshield and have got doors on it. Next I will give it a body. It runs and I plan to keep the hood which is lettered with the Nobles names.
Carkiller, I figured you would be at the pile -up.I wanted to go so bad its killing me,but had to take care of some family stuff.Tell you what I try to drive everything, but I think I just bring this along and put you in charge of it.!
You may have found something really great Ed Wynn Having appeared in a few films, in the '30s he increased his popularity on radio as the Texaco Fire Chief. "Texas Oil is going to sponsor a half-hour comedy radio show beginning in September, thats only eight weeks away. Theyve chosen an established vaudeville comic named Ed Wynn, and theyre going to advertise him as the "Fire Chief," which is what Texas Oil is calling their new gasoline. They want to give away a hat to each customer who purchases five gallons of their gasoline. Ten gallons, two hats." On Ebay right now - This photo is of the actor comedian Ed Wynn wearing a Texaco Fire Chief Hat. 1932 - The Texaco fire chief, Ed Wynn, was heard on radios Texaco Star Theater for the first time. Wynn, a popular vaudeville performer, demanded a live audience to react to his humour if he was to make the switch to radio. The network consented and Wynn became radios first true superstar. He would later make the switch to TV. Ed Wynn as "The Fire Chief" Ed Wynn (1886-1966)is credited with producing the first comedy program on radio, a mounting of his revue, The Perfect Fool, for broadcast on February 19, 1922. Wynn is said to have become the first radio performer to have a studio audience when he rounded up station employees to witness the broadcast because he found it difficult to be funny without an audience to respond to his humor. Wynn's strong ties to stage entertainment also caused him to wear a costume during his radio broadcasts. He is seen here performing in his most popular radio series, The Texaco Fire Chief, which ran from 1932 to 1935.
Chuckfish, the towtruck is a beat up 39 Ford that I have been driving for 10 years. I couldn't leave it turquoise any longer. Its a 350/350, 3 dueces, straight pipes, 9" rear. It is ugly but has been an excellent truck. Thats Honest Charlies door on the A coupe, but he doesnt know it yet.
Guys, thanks for all the info and pics.I cant belive how much you can find out about anything on the hamb.Manyolcars, looks like you have as many projects as I do,and the a clown car looks to be in pretty good shape.Gregg as far as history on this car I dont know a lot but heres what I know.The car was put together by a fellow who ran a salvage yard and one of his buddies who owned a texaco service station in the fifties.It was built to entertain the salvage yard owners young son and to use in local parades.The sad part is the young boy died of some heath complications and never got to ride in it and the car was locked in the basement of a building since then.Thanks again guys,hope you all got a kick out of seeing it.