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Pat Collins Fun Fairs (Established 1899)

 Organisation

Dates

  • Existence: Established 1899

Biography

Pat Collins Fun Fairs was established by fairground showman Pat Collins in 1899 although he had been travelling fairs with his family for many years before that.

Pat Collins Fun Fairs headquaters were based in Bloxwich in the borough of Walsall, and ran fairs across the whole of the Midlands and presernted rides and entertainments at the most important fairs in England including in Nottingham, Lancashire, Yorkshire, the Home Counties. As well as rides Pat presented films on the fairs and cinemas and owned several skating rinks.

In 1943 upon Pat's death, the firm passed to his widow and descendants and continued to dominate the British fairgrounds. In 1979, Pat's grandson Pat Collins joined forces with fairground showman Anthony Harris, sharing ownership of the business until 1983 when Anthony acquired sole ownership of Pat Collins Fun Fairs.

Pat Collins Fun Fairs continues to be run by the Harris family well into the twenty first century and it is still one of the most respected fims in the business.

Found in 27 Collections and/or Records:

Bill Garbett Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0050
Scope and Contents

Colour and black and white photographs mainly taken by Bill Garbett of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs and transport owned by Pat Collins Fun Fair, Carters Steam Fair and the showman Alfred Stevens.

Dates: 1937 - 1994

Blueprints for Ride Structures and Platforms, c1911 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.32
Scope and Contents

Blueprints for ride structures and platforms, including the Whirlwind Racer, the Rocket and Revolving Speedway and cars, Gorleston Ghost Train, No.1 Swoop and Noah’s Ark.

Dates: c1911 - 1939

Blueprints of Plans and Elevations for Various Fairground Rides and Details, c1915 - 1949

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.33
Scope and Contents Plans and elevations for various fairground rides including No.24 Monorail, arrangement of swing boats, plan for Burton bridge widening, Collins Battersea cars, Wall of Death, Rocket Speedway, Coaster plan for John Collins in Yarmouth, No.7, No.8 and No.1 Ghost Trains, Weymouth and Ramsgate Ghost Trains, Monkey Roundabout, No.8 Dodgem for Yarmouth, plans for Leeds Amusement Park, No.48, No.49, No.57, No.53, No.52, No.68, No.22, No.29, No.35, No.66 and No.14 Dodgems, Codona Dodgem, No.1 Water...
Dates: c1915 - 1949

Blueprints of Plans and Sketches for Fairground Rides, c1887 - 1940

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.30
Scope and Contents Plans and sketches for fairground rides including Electric Yacht, arrangement of juvenile roundabouts, arrangement of No.3 Gem Roundabout, details of platforms and platform rods, Yo-Yo section and pay box, cut outs of sample car, P. Collins Joy Tubes, No.1 Water Dodgems, chimney and rafter, compensation track for scenic, Devil’s Disc section through centre, Devil’s Disc (Joy Wheel) ground plan, Straight slide extension for Arthur Holland, Helter Skelter as Proctor’s, No.2 Race track John...
Dates: c1887 - 1940

Coaster Track Plan, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.33(viii)
Scope and Contents

Track plan and elevetion of coaster for John Collins at Yarmouth. Scale 1" to 20Ft.

Dates: c1930 - 1939

Design for John Collins' Globe of Death, c1920 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.51(iii)
Scope and Contents

Design for John Collins' globe of death procenium, showing frontage structure and lettering. Pencil on paper.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

Detail of J. Collins Ride Design, c1900 - 1920

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.49(iii)
Scope and Contents

Car detail for a J. Collins ride with some annotations and dimensions. Pencil on paper.

Dates: c1900 - 1920

Drawings and Plans for Ride Designs, c1880 - 1939

 File
Reference code: 178V10.51
Scope and Contents

Drawings and plans for ride designs including juvenile pay box, John Collins globe of death, Yo-Yo domes and droppes, No.4 wall stage and canopy, Midget ride and dodgem pay box, rail cars and heraldic decoration.

Dates: c1880 - 1939

Joy Tubes Design, January 1913

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.30(xiv)
Scope and Contents

Design of sections of Pat Collins' Joy Tubes with annotations, scale 3/4".

Dates: January 1913

Original Artwork, c1900 - 1929

 Series
Reference code: 178V10
Scope and Contents

Drawings and designs used for the decoration of fairground rides.

Dates: c1900 - 1929

Orton and Spooner Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0070
Scope and Contents

This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.

Dates: c1870 - 1969

Photographic Album, 1899 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13695
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs, boxing booths, steam engines and transport, Showpeople, circus and fairground shows including Murphy, Harniest, Deakin, Waddington, Anderton and Rowland, Silcock, Harry Lee, Shaw, Proctor, Reany, M.A. Collins and Tom Norman at Hull Fair, Northampton Fair, Stockport, Daisy Nook, Heaton Park, Oldham and other locations and showmen with notes. Photographs taken and collected by Rowland...
Dates: 1899 - 1955

Photographic Album, 1941 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13696
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, steam engines and transport, circus and fairground shows including Crow, Harry Lee, Smart, Bertram Mills, Farrar, Butlin, Codona, Silcock, Shaw, Marshall, Pat Collins, M.A. Collins, Harry Lee and Wallis at Oldham Fair, Lincoln Fair, Bootle, Huddersfield, Southport, Hull Fair, Knottingley Fair, Stanley Park and other locations and showmen with notes. Photographs taken and collected by Rowland Scott,...
Dates: 1941 - 1955

Photographs, 1937 - 1994

 Series
Reference code: 178C73
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs and transport, mostly by Bill Garbett.

Dates: 1937 - 1994

Photographs and Postcards, c1899 - 1969

 Series
Reference code: 178C57
Scope and Contents

Photographs, postcards and negatives of fairgrounds taken by Rowland Scott and other fairground enthusiasts.

Dates: c1899 - 1969

Photographs of Fairgrounds Taken by Bill Garbett and Other Contributors, 1937 - 1994

 File
Reference code: 178C73.4-13
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs and transport. Most images taken by Bill Garbett including Pat Collins firms' steam engines, Carters' Gallopers and Octopus, Arthur Stevens' Lighthouse Slip and scenes of fairs such as Nottingham Goose Fair.

Dates: 1937 - 1994

Photographs of Fairgrounds Taken by Bill Garbett and Other Contributors, 1937 - 1994

 File
Reference code: 178C73.15a-125
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs and transport. Most images taken by Bill Garbett including Pat Collins firms' steam engines, Carter's Gallopers and Octopus, Arthur Stevens' Lighthouse Slip and scenes of fairs such as Nottingham Goose Fair.

Dates: 1937 - 1994

Photographs of Fairgrounds Taken by Bill Garbett and Other Contributors, 1937 - 1994

 File
Reference code: 178C73.138-166
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs and transport. Most images taken by Bill Garbett including Pat Collins firms' steam engines, Carter's Gallopers and Octopus, Arthur Stevens' Lighthouse Slip and scenes of fairs such as Nottingham Goose Fair

Dates: 1937 - 1994

Plans, c1916 - 1939

 Series
Reference code: 178M15
Scope and Contents

Blueprints of electric parts for fairground rides supplied by Mather & Platt Ltd and Hackett & Co., Electrical Engineers to Orton and Spooner.

Dates: c1916 - 1939

Plans and Drawings for Ride Mechanisms and Components, c1890 - 1939

 File
Reference code: 178V10.49
Scope and Contents

Plans and drawings for ride mechanisms for organs, J. Collins big boats and scenic car axels and boxes, details of horizontal shaft and tee swift for juvenile roundabout, water dodgem drifters, W. Davis top motion gallopers, electric yacht bearings, break return ropes for whirlwind racer, floor bearers and sleepers, helter skelter washer plates, cotter bolts and pins.

Dates: c1890 - 1939