Dunbar No. 1 Wagons
Dunbar made multiple versions of the No. 1 Wagon from 1900 to 1930.
The last one was sold on June 11, 1930
to L. A. Tucker of Hollywood, California
1905 Catalog
Note the white rubber tires.
One of the few pictures of the rear side of any early Dunbar Popcorn Wagon.
1905 Catalog Writeup for No. 1 Wagon
No. 1 Wagon
as Pictured in the
1906, 1907, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1920, 1922, and 1926 Dunbar Catalogs
This is the first catalog picture with the little man called Happy Hooligan The catalog is marked as a 1906 Catalog. However, we have a copy of a 1904 letter that says Dunbar added Happy Hooligan to their machines in 1904. So the catalogs are marked later than they were published or it took Dunbar a couple of years to get a picture of their new model. Note the steam engine base now has wings and the whistle has been moved closer to the steam engine.
No. 1 Wagon Wooden Wheels
1905 and 1906 Dunbar Catalogs
No. 1 Wagon - Wooden Wheels
1907, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1920, 1922, 1926, and 1929 Dunbar Catalogs
No. 1 WAGON
Points of Interest.
1904 – 1926 are the proven years of production. The No. 1 Wagon was called “THE CHICAGO” from 1906 through 1926. Price at $325--$375 they produced at least 262 of these wagons which made it 2 ½ times more popular than their next best-selling wagon.
The No. 1 Wagon could be purchased in more forms than any other Dunbar street model wagon.
It could be pulled by hand (almost always) or a pony. In 1905 and 1906, it could be purchased with an “auto attachment” (picture X) which would allow the steam engine to propel the wagon down the street it cost $50 extra. Up until 1906 the No. 1 Wagon was only offered with three five cent fancy cast-iron signs located above the popper case and no roof unless ordered as an option in 1906. In 1907-1929 it could be purchased with a metal roof and wooden wheels, hard rubber tires and a cover over the peanut warming pan or with the three five cent fancy cast-iron popcorn signs and wire wheels with hard rubber tires. In 1905 the rubber tires were white. The body is painted black baked enamel. The running gear is finished in a very rich vermillion red color or any color desired. The No. 1 Wagon was always outfitted with two torches and in the later years a two cluster electric light could be supplied. In the very early years, a leather belt was used to drive the popcorn popper which was later replaced by a ladder chain and it had a single tone steam whistle mounted at roof height which was later replaced at or before 1906 by a Dunbar chime whistle just above the steam engine. This allowed condensed steam from the whistle to drip onto the steam engine base plate by the use of a small cast catch basin on the base of the whistle and then be drained to the ground. In 1904, according to a letter from Dunbar & Co., an animated cast-iron figure of Happy Hooligan was attached to the engine base plate. Happy Hooligan was powered by the operation of the peanut roaster cylinder. The popper case had double strength glass. The No. 1 Wagon always had two crystalline art glass signs with beveled edges and polished nickel frames placed on the front side. The crystalline art glass sign in front of the peanut warming pan said “FRESH ROASTED” and the sign in front of the popper case said “THE CHICAGO”. There are four curtains which can be attached to the top, enclosing all or part of the machine. In 1905, an ornamental stationary base was designed for the No. 1 Wagon out of angle iron with ornamental nickel plated brackets. Fitted with this base the price is $300. A cover for the peanut warming pan which is a door with a polished copper border and heavy glass is priced at five dollars before becoming standard in the improved No. 1 Wagon in 1907. The 1907
(We should put it catalog description of this wagon along with this points of interest)
Points of Interest.
1904 – 1926 are the proven years of production. The No. 1 Wagon was called “THE CHICAGO” from 1906 through 1926. Price at $325--$375 they produced at least 262 of these wagons which made it 2 ½ times more popular than their next best-selling wagon.
The No. 1 Wagon could be purchased in more forms than any other Dunbar street model wagon.
It could be pulled by hand (almost always) or a pony. In 1905 and 1906, it could be purchased with an “auto attachment” (picture X) which would allow the steam engine to propel the wagon down the street it cost $50 extra. Up until 1906 the No. 1 Wagon was only offered with three five cent fancy cast-iron signs located above the popper case and no roof unless ordered as an option in 1906. In 1907-1929 it could be purchased with a metal roof and wooden wheels, hard rubber tires and a cover over the peanut warming pan or with the three five cent fancy cast-iron popcorn signs and wire wheels with hard rubber tires. In 1905 the rubber tires were white. The body is painted black baked enamel. The running gear is finished in a very rich vermillion red color or any color desired. The No. 1 Wagon was always outfitted with two torches and in the later years a two cluster electric light could be supplied. In the very early years, a leather belt was used to drive the popcorn popper which was later replaced by a ladder chain and it had a single tone steam whistle mounted at roof height which was later replaced at or before 1906 by a Dunbar chime whistle just above the steam engine. This allowed condensed steam from the whistle to drip onto the steam engine base plate by the use of a small cast catch basin on the base of the whistle and then be drained to the ground. In 1904, according to a letter from Dunbar & Co., an animated cast-iron figure of Happy Hooligan was attached to the engine base plate. Happy Hooligan was powered by the operation of the peanut roaster cylinder. The popper case had double strength glass. The No. 1 Wagon always had two crystalline art glass signs with beveled edges and polished nickel frames placed on the front side. The crystalline art glass sign in front of the peanut warming pan said “FRESH ROASTED” and the sign in front of the popper case said “THE CHICAGO”. There are four curtains which can be attached to the top, enclosing all or part of the machine. In 1905, an ornamental stationary base was designed for the No. 1 Wagon out of angle iron with ornamental nickel plated brackets. Fitted with this base the price is $300. A cover for the peanut warming pan which is a door with a polished copper border and heavy glass is priced at five dollars before becoming standard in the improved No. 1 Wagon in 1907. The 1907
(We should put it catalog description of this wagon along with this points of interest)