MOTORS and ANIMALS COMBINE
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in the Modern Circus
Ex-U.S. Army F.W.D. Tractors Move the Biggest Travelling Zoo in Europe
LUCKY elephants! Mary, Anna and Kamala travel in state in a box trailer behind a streamlined F.W.D. tractive unit. Mary is a teenager and the other two are a little younger. There are five more Ceylon elephants — all quite babies — in another big red-and-gold box. All are gentle and intelligent creatures.
In another wagon, also behind an F W.D , are four shaggy brown Russian bears. They are amusing, but ill-tempered.
Altogether six of the large red streamlined tractors take the road, each with three trailers. If someone suddenly unloaded all the "passengers." it would look as though the ark were diserrtharking. The gentle elephants, the mean bears, 20 stately African lions, six Royal Bengal tigers, a little party of lithe leopards, a crowd of capering monkeys, and some baby lions and ponies!
Largest Zoo on Tour
With the largest collection of animals on tour in Europe, Chipperfield's Circus and Zoo is on the road for its second season since the war.
When I went to see them "on location" in Derbyshire recently, it was early on a sunny afternoon. There was no show until evening and everyone was either doing chores around the caravans or resting while there was an opportunity.
Among the smart streamlined living vans in the " H.Q. area," I found one which housed Mr. R. Thompson, secretary of this concern,
B2
which was entertaining the English public when Charles II was on the throne.
During the war the Chipperfield brothers were in the R.A.F., as was Mr. Thompson. They served their country well, but kept an eager eye on the future and looked forward to getting the zoo and circus going again. Now released, they are well into their stride. Mr. Richard Chipperfield is senior, at about 40. He takes an active interest in the circus animals as well as the organizing side. Mr. James Chipperfield, who is tentmaster, drives one of the F.W.D. lorries with three long trailers, two containing elephants and the third being a living wagon.
Then there is Mr. John, whose speciality is horses, but as well as the horse trailer behind his F.W.D., there is a living van and a trailer full of brown bears.
Mrs James Chipperfield's lorry, a Leyland Beaver, hauls the mess wagon, the trapeze-gear trailer and a living van. Mr. Thompson, an active outdoor man for a secretary, takes a generator trailer, a packing wagon and a special 32-ft. trailer behind his lorry.
The last-mentioned is, like the tractors, ex-U.S. Army, and is in process of adaptation to carry all eight elephants and a large warm-water tank. Mr. F. Carless, Chipperfield employee of long standing, takes the tigers, the wardrobe wagon and the public-address system. Mr. J. Stockley, transport manager, has pole wagon and canvas wagon for the "big, top," and his own smart little home on wheels.
At the main entrance to the circus three F.W.D.s were neatly drawn up on each side to form a crescent, with the gaily painted foyer in the middle and the striped big top rising behind.
The concern is delighted with the tractors, which were purchased at a Ministry of Supply sale. Not only have they ample power to spare, and an excellent cross-country performance, but winches are incorporated
Winching Saves the Day
The best of circuses is apt to become bogged at times. Once already the F.W.D.s have had to winch out every load from a site. The work takes time and has to be done in easy stages, but it saves at least a day compared with operations without winches.
"Tractive units are better than lorries in every way," said Mr. Thompson. He quoted a run down from Scotland by Mr. StockIey in the height of the cold spell with an F.W.D. and two heavy trailers. They passed many stranded and struggling vehicles on hills.
Making for the zoo, we passed through the "top." It has seating for 1,500 people, I was told. "How long does it take to put up?" I asked. "It depends on conditions," said Mr. Thompson, hut it can be done in two hours." To take down and load the top takes only l hours, in favourable circumstances. There are 450 seat boards and numerous decorating facades, bunting, etc.
Meat has to be delivered or collected every day to the tune of about 3 cwt.; carnivorous animals eat up to 12 lb. each. Fodder is carried with the circus. Water for the elephants, which must be tepid, is another problem. The eight may want 100 gallons.
Circus horses, in these times of modern motor load-haulers, are sleek, plump and leisured, compared with the days when they provided the horse power for the move as well as glamour for the ring. That, however, was a long way back. Well before the war, Chippertields had LeyIands and a Scan-linen tractive unit.
Vehicles cover anything from 2,000 to 3,000 miles in a season from March to September. On a move, the circus travels up to 50 miles and may open the same day, despite the unwieldy loads and the necessarily low speed. The circus business is one in which bookings of grounds cannot be made far ahead.
Run on Family Lines The business is run on family lines and there is no complicated system of costing or recording. Maintenance is at the bare minimum during the season, the vehicles being overhauled in winter quarters (and head office) at Sandy Down Farm, Stock bridge, Hants.
Then, also, is the time for body repairs, alterations and additions of all kinds. The streamlined bodies on the F.W.D.s were designed and made by Mr. Stockle).,, out of the original troop-carrier superstructures and are remarkably effective.
After I had left these progressive showpeople, I thought how the character of the travelling circus, and its bigger brother, the fair and
circus, are changing. Mechanization is giving them a new aspect and a new vigour. J. D. M.