George Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd (1875 - 1977)
Dates
- Existence: 1875 - 1977
- Usage: 1925 - 1977
Biography
Orton, Sons and Spooner Ltd., were an engineering company, which produced some of the most sophisticated and sought after rides, wagons and show fronts in the British fairgrounds at the turn of the nineteenth century. The company gained an unrivalled reputation, applying industrial and artistic design to produce some of the most spectacular rides in the sector through a combination of innovative engineering, entrepreneurship and decorative finishes applied by some of the best artists and carvers in the trade.
Orton and Spooner elevated ride manufacturing from its humble man and animal powered beginnings in the pre-industrial revolution to sensorial experiences of beauty, speed, discovery and thrill, matching the social aspirations of an entire nation.
George Orton first stablished the Lion Carriage Works in 1875, making Gipsy and other transportation wagons. It wasn't until 1883 that Orton started trading with fairground showmen by building highly decorative living wagons, which exteriors worked as showfonts. This diversification signified the company’s transition from the transport industry to the entertainment industry.
Charles Spooner was a skilled woodcarver mainly supplying the thriving Burton-on-Trent brewing industry with drays and handcarts. Spooner set up his own business in 1892. His impressive finesse as a woodcarver brought him to the attention of George Orton in 1894. Initially, Orton sub-contracted Spooner to supply carvings for his living wagons and showfronts. Their skills were so complementary that the business became dependant on each other and Orton and Spooner entered into a long partnership, which resulted in the amalgamation of their companies in 1925.
The manufacturing of living wagons soon evolved into lavish showfronts and ambitious rides that dominated the market, especially after the company’s main competitor, Fredrick Savage of King’s Lynn, went into liquidation in 1910.
The company was requisitioned by the government during both world wars; during WWI to manufacture portable aircraft hangers and during WWII to build military vehicles.
Orton and Spooner managed to resume business in the supply of the entertainment sector after both wars, but started winding down the manufacturing of fairground equipment after WWII as the company experienced the effects of fundamental changes on labour conditions and market demand.
From the end of WWII until 1953 they diversified into the manufacturing of light engineering products to offset the unpredictability of the entertainment sector. Orton, Sons and Spooner Ltd., finally stopped trading in fairground equipment in 1954 to specialise exclusively in the manufacturing of mechanical handling equipment until 1977 when the company finally closed.
Found in 806 Collections and/or Records:
Drawings for Hoop-la Stall Design, c1930 - 1939
Design for seweets stall with large stand inside. Pencil and watercolour on paper.
Drawings for Ice Cream Carts, c1920 - 1939
Sketches for ice-cream carts for Jaconelli and Risi (see 178H8.22 for Risi's specifications). Pencil on paper.
Drawings for Organ Front Designs, c1920 - 1939
Designs for organ fronts including blueprints of drawings and pencil drawings.
Drawings for Scenic Rail Cars, c1900 - 1929
Humorous designs for gondola cars for switchback or scenic fairground rides.
Drawings for the Design of Various Decorative Components for Fairground Rides, c1890 - 1939
Designs for showfronts, decorative columns and other decorative features, including the swag entrance for a scenic for Charles Thurston, a Hippodrome swag entrance, the front of switchback and scenic rides, Simnett’s shop front, Parry’s show front and the design for a fireplace. Pencil on paper.
Drawings of Switchback Frames, 12 December 1901
New switchback frames for Mr J. Whiting, drawn on woven paper.
Drawings, Samples and Specifications for the Design of Fairground Rides, 1908 - 1937
Drawings, samples and specifications for the design of fairground rides including original drawings on tracing paper by Orton and Spooner, Savages and Supercar Co., for gallopers, arks, coasters, ghost trains, wall of death, haunted houses, water dodgems, planes, etc. A newspaper article from the National Motor Journal, and specifications for Anderton and Rowland and John and Pat Collins.
Driver and Dinosaur Drawing, c1900 - 1929
Sketch of humorous driving scene showing a car crashing onto a dinosaur and the driver being launched out of the car. Pencil on grid lined paper.
Driver Seat Lead Car Blueprint, 19 November 1934
Sections of rocket speedway driver seat by Norman Bartlett N. Tonawanda N.Y.scale 1/4 size.
Driving Centre Gear Motor Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Blueprint showing details of the pin wheel and pinion for a 25 feet diameter rollabout by L A Wheedon Burton on Trent, scale 1/2". Drawing No.1.
Driving Gear Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Arrangement for driving gear for ghost train, scale 1/2 size by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd. Drawing X360.
Driving Gear Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Arrangement of driving gear for ghost train, scale 1/2 size by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd. Drawing X360.
Driving Roller Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Blueprint showing details of the driving roller of a YoYo machine by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd.
Drome Elevation Drawings, c1930 - 1939
Elevation drawings of sections of drome and plan of centre. Scale 1/2" to 1Ft.
Drome Plan, c1930 - 1939
Plan of drome,scale 1/2" to 1Ft.
Electric Boat Unit Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Blueprint showing a side elevation of an electric boat unit with propelor, scale full size.
Electric Lamp Design Blueprint, 7 June 1926
Blueprint for the design of electric lamp, signed G.B. 004894 with drawing on reverse.
Electric Scooter Steering Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Blueprint of Castle electric scooter steering for dodgem unit. Drawing No.4409.
Electric Yacht Sections Elevations, February 1915
Elevations drawings of sections of brass rails and standards for electric yacht's large boats, signed Orton, Sons & Spooner, Bruton-on-Trent.
Electric Yachts Component Design, 1914
Design of components for electric yachts, scale full size.