Ak-Sar-Ben - 5-B - Assorted Circus Cars - Barnum & Bailey - 1, 4, 11

Specific Item Information: Set Includes 3 customized cars:
- Atlas Reefer 50 Foot Plug Door Mechanical. Metal-Sided Reefer Generator Car #4
- Atlas Stock Car 85 Foot HiCube. Wooden Horse Car #11
- Lima Passenger Heavyweight Coach. "P.T. Barnum" Private Coach #1

Road Name History: P. T. Barnum had run the Barnum's American Museum from New York City since 1841 from the former Scudder's American Museum building. During this time, Barnum took the Museum on road tours, named "P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling American Museum".

James Anthony Bailey had teamed up with James E. Cooper to create the Cooper and Bailey Circus in the 1860s. The Cooper and Bailey Circus became the chief competitor to Barnum's circus. As Bailey's circus was outperforming his, Barnum sought to merge the circuses. The two groups agreed to combine their shows on March 28, 1881. Initially named "P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show On Earth, And The Great London Circus, Sanger's Royal British Menagerie and The Grand International Allied Shows United", it was eventually shortened to "Barnum and Bailey's Circus". Barnum died in 1891 and Bailey then purchased the circus from his widow.

From Wikipedia

Brand/Importer Information: Ak-Sar-Ben Hobby Co
Information on AkSarBen Hobby and their history is sketchy at best. Of course, AkSarBen is Nebraska spelled backwards so one might assume that they got their start in the Husker state. The most recent evidence of their existence, however, was in the 2010 Model Retailer Hobby Industry Directory listing them in Jacksboro, TN. The phone number listed is disconnected, so, who knows for sure? What is known is that AkSarBen Hobbies was owned by Allen Miller and got their start in the 1980's producing very high quality custom, limited edition HO and N Scale products. They probably have left the model train business for more than 20 years ago.