CIRCUS TOYS

It took $19,000 to buy this Hubley toy calliope at an RSL auction in Oldwick, N.J. It is in mint condition and has the original box, which adds to the value. Circus toys are very popular. Photo: Contributed Photo / The News-Times Contributed

Children love the circus, so what better toy than a model circus parade. In the late 19th century, cages of animals were drawn by horses through the main part of town to announce the circus had arrived.
They also featured music and spangled costumes and were a major event in town. By the 20th century, circuses had to compete with radio, then TV. But in the early 1960s, the circus parade returned and can still be seen in some cities. That's why 21st-century children understand the circus toys of the past.
Toy replicas of circus wagons, animals and performers were made by many toy companies, including Schoenhut, Kenton Hardware, Arcade, Kingsbury and Hubley. The Hubley circus, made from 1906 to 1919, had an iron "Royal Circus" calliope wagon that carried a music-making machine. In October, a 16-inch-long calliope with horses, in mint condition with the box, was auctioned for $19,000. The original price in 1915 was $5.98.