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:
Floor for Ghost Train Blueprint, 24 June 1931
Purpose wood floor for ghost train, Bournemouth track by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd, scale 1/4". Darwing Y216.
Flying Machines Ride Design, c1900 - 1910
Design for steam engine driven flying machine ride.
Footballers Drawing, c1900 - 1929
Desing for gondola car showing a footballer at each end of the car, one kicking the ball and the other being hit with it in the face. Pencil on paper.
Frank Codona's Speedway Frontage, c1930 - 1939
Colour drawing of ride frontage containing landscape scenes and Egyptian inspired columns. Stamped Geo. Orton, Sons & Spooner, Burton-on-Trent. Contains notes about decorative finishes.
Frieze Decoration by H. Darby, c1880 - 1899
Sequential photographic montage of painted decoration by H. Darby with female figures and cherubs, mounted on board.
Frieze Design, c1890 - 1900
Sketch for the design of a freize. Pencil on paper.
Frieze Design, c1890 - 1900
Sketch for the design of a freize. Pencil on paper.
G. Green Scenic Plan, 1912
Section of design of G. Green scenic ride's gates with dimensions and annotations. Pencil on paper.
General Plan of Portable Pretzel Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Blueprint showing tent outlines, fun devices, tracks, canvas partitions and front.
Ghost Train Car Drawing, c1930 - 1939
Drawing of ghost train engine car.
Ghost Train Car Drawings, c1930 - 1939
Side elevation and plan of special ghost train cars, Sheffield.
Ghost Train Design Drawing, c1930 - 1939
Design of frontage of ghost train, depicting a comical scene with ghost scaring passengers from the paybox, scale 3/4".
Ghost Train Design Drawing, c1930 - 1939
Design of frontage of ghost train, depicting a skull wearing a head covered flanked by two trains.
Ghost Train Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Elevation and floor plan for ghost train at Ramsgate with outline of trains on the top section, scale 1/4".
Ghost Train Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Drawing of ghost train front section. Scale 1 and 1/2".
Ghost Train Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Elevation of silouette of ghost train frontage. Scale 1 and 1/2" to 1Ft.
Ghost Train Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Elevation of silouette of ghost train frontage. Scale 1 and 1/2" to 1Ft.
Ghost Train Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Elevation of silouette of ghost train frontage. Scale 1 and 1/2" to 1Ft.
Ghost Train Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Front Elevation drawing of ghost train with annotations, scale 3/4".
Ghost Train Elevations, 1931
Three elevation drawings for a proposed ghost train building, scale 1/8". Signed by C. Wiseman.