Charles Cretors, a Decatur, Illinois confectioner, was disappointed with a steam-powered peanut roaster he had purchased. An inventive soul, he set out to make a better one, which was operating by 1891. Cretors devised a steam-powered machine that would roast 12 pounds of peanuts and 20 pounds of coffee, also popcorn and bake chestnuts. As a fully-mechanized unit, it provided more even quality than roasting by hand, and the operation itself provided entertainment for the customer. At the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, he transfixed the public with the smell and taste of delectable snacks provided by his hand-drawn cart. The concept took off from there and resulted in numerous iterations of the original, spanning many decades. One such offspring is highlighted by the unit offered here at the Cars of Dreams Museum.

The Cretors Popcorn Wagon seen here is an attractive, fully modernized wagon that, while devoid of model markings, appears to retain many original components, including framework and glass panels. It is completely set up for modern usage and retains and includes the hot dog warming trays and water boilers, condiment and topping buckets, a modern microwave, a refrigerator and sink combo unit, an electric popcorn popper, and a soda fountain. It features 110 volt electricity, a 102-inch wheelbase, wood paneling, beveled glass, and a functional awning-the only thing missing at this point is the long line of customers!