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#250 Big Performing Circus
Years Made:
Fisher-Price Toy Department
Department 7:
Playsets
1932-1938

Larger Photo


1932-1933 Version

Description: The #250 Big Performing Circus is a large wooden playset introduced by Fisher-Price in 1932. This amazing set includes a strong wooden circus wagon that is strong enough for a child to stand or ride upon, but is also detachable allowing children to lift the frame from it's cart to make circus walls. The set includes wooden cut-out animals and a clown with movable, posable limbs, and several different circus props including a ladder, teeter-totter, and barrel. This set proved to be very successful with it's uniqueness and vast play potential, and it was one of the most successful toys of the 1930's.
Accessories:
  • 1932-1933 - Detatchable Circus Wagon held together by wooden pegs. Assembles wagon measures 16" long, 8-3/4" high, 7-1/2" wide (*See "Variations" below):
    • FPT44293 - Roof - Yellow rectangular wooden circus wagon roof with a four-color lithography on one side featuring pictures of circus animals sold in the #250 set. Litho is marked with a Fisher-Price Toys logo and marked "Big Performing Circus Parade Woodsy Animals". The two long sides have TWO raised yellow wooden decorative panel (space with hole on the roof between each panel). All 4 corners of the roof, and center of each long side, have a hole to attach other circus wagon pieces (6 holes total).
    • FPT44294 - Base - Red rectangular wooden circus wagon base (flat-top cart) that rolls on 4 yellow wooden wheels with black rubber traction tread on the edges of the wheels. One end of the cart has an attached pull cord with a red wooden ball on the end. The two long sides have a hole in the center area (between the wheels).
    • 2 each - FPT44295 - Wagon End Pieces - Red squared wooden wagon end side frame with 2 black wooden rods within the frame, and 2 small holes on one of the ends. Measures 6-1/2" tall x 5-1/2" wide.
    • 2 each - FPT44296 - Wagon Side w/ Door - Long red squared wooden boards with 6 black wooden rods between the boards (resembles a ladder). One of the center black rods has a yellow "swinging" gate attached. All of the black rods are centered, leaving a hole on each long end to attach the wagon side to other circus wagon pieces. Measures 6" tall x 15" wide.
    • 6 each - FPT44297 - Oval Bead - Oval red wooden bead with a hole on the bottom that fits over wooden pegs that holds the circus wagon together.
    • 4 each - FPT44298 - Round Bead - Round yellow wooden bead with a hole on one end that fits over wooden pegs that holds the circus wagon together.
    • 4 each - FPT44299 - Rod/Dowel - 6" long wooden stick/rod/dowel used to help build circus props and/or to hold the circus wagon together.
  • FPT44300 - Ladder - Long red wooden 9-rung ladder with small round red wooden peg steps. Measures 13-1/4" long x 2-3/4" wide.
  • FPT44301 - Sliding Board - Long yellow rectangular wooden sliding board with 2 recessed grooves on one side and a small hole in the center. Can be used as a teeter-totter or as a merry-go-round.
  • FPT44302 - Ball - Small round red plastic ball with a mold seam acorss the middle.
  • FPT44303 - Barrel - Round yellow barrel with groves on the top and bottom edges and 2 raised grooves on the sides. The top of the barrel has a small hole.
  • FPT44304 - Round red bucket/tub that is open on top. The top is slightly larger than the bottom of the bucket.
  • FPT44305 - Red round wooden base that resembles a wheel. One side of the base has an upright peg that the yellow wooden board fits onto to form a teeter-totter. The outside edge of the base is rounded with 2 recessed groved lines.
  • 9 wooden cut-out figures with wooden jointed arms and legs that are movable:
    • FPT44306 - Bear - Black bear with a tan face and rosey cheeks. Bear has wooden movable arms and legs with paper lithographs that match his body. Joints are attached via metal connectors on shoulders and hips. Has a blue rectangular Fisher-Price Toys logo on one leg.
    • FPT44307 - Camel - Tan camel with a brown beard and mane abd greeb abd red tastles on the side of his head. Camel has wooden movable arms and legs with paper lithographs that match his body. Joints are attached via metal connectors on shoulders and hips. Has a black rectangular Fisher-Price Toys logo on one leg.
    • FPT44308 - Clown - Clown wearing a red suit, green hat with a red ring, and a white face. Clown has wooden movable arms and legs with paper lithographs that match his body. Joints are attached via metal connectors on shoulders and hips. Has a black rectangular Fisher-Price Toys logo on one leg.
    • FPT44309 - Dog - White dog with black spots and a red hat. Dog has wooden movable arms, and legs with paper lithographs that match his body. Joints are attached via metal connectors on shoulders and hips. Has a black rectangular Fisher-Price Toys logo on one leg.
    • FPT44310 - Elephant - Grey elephant with pink cheeks and white tusks. The elephant has wooden movable arms and legs with paper lithographs that match his body. Joints are attached via metal connectors on shoulders and hips. Has a black rectangular Fisher-Price Toys logo on one leg.
    • FPT44311 - Giraffe - Yellow giraffe with a thin black mane and reddish-orange horns and spots on his neck and body. The giraffe has wooden movable arms and legs with paper lithographs that match his body. Joints are attached via metal connectors on shoulders and hips. Has a black rectangular Fisher-Price Toys logo on one leg.
    • FPT44312 - Lion - Yellow lion with a big brownish-orange mane. Lion has wooden movable arms and legs with paper lithographs that match his body. Joints are attached via metal connectors on shoulders and hips. Has a black rectangular Fisher-Price Toys logo on one leg.
    • FPT44313 - Monkey - Brown monkey wearing a red jacket, green pants, and a round green hat. Monkey has wooden movable legs with paper lithographs that match his body. Joints are attached via metal connectors on hips.
    • FPT44314 - Pony - White pony with a black mane and tail, red cheeks, and a red saddle on his back. Pony has wooden movable arms and legs with paper lithographs that match his body. Joints are attached via metal connectors on shoulders and hips. Has a black rectangular Fisher-Price Toys logo on one leg.
  • FPT44315 - #250 Big Performing Circus Instructions - White paper instructions booklet with black print. The booklet has pictures of 8 different ways to set up the Big Performance Circus set.
Variations:
  • 1934-1938 - The size of the cirus wagon was slightly reduced in 1934 and design slightly changed. Assembles wagon measures 15" long, 9" high, 7-3/4" wide:
    • FPT44316 - Roof - Yellow rectangular wooden circus wagon roof with a four-color lithography on one side featuring pictures of circus animals sold in the #250 set. Litho is marked with a Fisher-Price Toys logo and marked "Big Performing Circus Parade Woodsy Animals". The two long sides have ONE raised yellow wooden decorative panel. All 4 corners of the roof have a hole to attach other circus wagon pieces (4 holes total). Measures 15" long x 5-1/2" wide.
    • FPT44317 - Base - Red rectangular wooden circus wagon base (flat-top cart) that rolls on 4 yellow wooden wheels with black rubber traction tread on the edges of the wheels. One end of the cart has an attached pull cord with a red wooden ball on the end. The two long sides have a hole in the center area (between the wheels). Measures 13-1/4" long x 5-1/2" wide.
    • 2 each - FPT44295 - Wagon End Pieces - Red squared wooden wagon end side frame with 2 black wooden rods within the frame, and 2 small holes on one of the ends. Measures 6-1/2" tall x 5-1/2" wide.
    • FPT44296 - Wagon Side w/ Door - Long red squared wooden boards with 6 black wooden rods between the boards (resembles a ladder). One of the center black rods has a yellow "swinging" gate attached. All of the black rods are centered, leaving a hole on each long end to attach the wagon side to other circus wagon pieces. Measures 6" tall x 15" wide.
    • FPT44318 - Wagon Side (no door) - Long red squared wooden boards with 7 black wooden rods between the boards (resembles a ladder). All of the black rods are centered, leaving a hole on each long end to attach the wagon side to other circus wagon pieces. Measures 6" tall x 15" wide.
    • 4 each - FPT44297 - Oval Bead - Oval red wooden bead with a hole on the bottom that fits over wooden pegs that holds the circus wagon together.
    • 4 each - FPT44298 - Round Bead - Round yellow wooden bead with a hole on one end that fits over wooden pegs that holds the circus wagon together.
    • 4 each - FPT44299 - Rod/Dowel - 6" long wooden stick/rod/dowel used to help build circus props and/or to hold the circus wagon together.
Other Information:
  • 1932 retail price for this set was $2.75.
  • 1933-1937 retail price for this set was $3.00.
  • This set was originated by Helen M. Schelle.
  • Some of the accessory figures sold in this set were also used in 1932's #600 Woodsy Carts.
  • Also see 1962-1963's #900 Fisher-Price Circus & 1664-1970's #900 Big Performing Circus for other sets that used a wooden Circus Wagon and similar animal figures.
Please, if you have any information or details about this toy that isn't mentioned above then e-mail us. Thanks!


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