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:
No.1 Juvenile Railwail Elevation, June 1937
Front elevation of Thompsons' No.1 juvenile train ride front and train, scale 3/4".
No.1, No.2 and No.3 Arks Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Front elevation of the outside of No.1 Noah's Ark for Frank Codona, No.2 for J. and H. Evans and No.3 for William Codona with entrance.
No.1 Swoop Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Elevation drawing of section of No.1 Swoop, scale 1/2".
No.1 Swoop Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Track elevation for No.1 Swoop shown as a straight line, scale 1/2", with Geo. Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd, Burton-on-Trent stamp.
No.1 Swoop Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Front elevation of outside shutters and rails for No.1 Swoop, showing colour designs of aeroplanes and bridges. Scale 1".
No.1 Swoop Paybox Sketch, c1920 - 1939
Colour sketch of section of No.1 Swoop's paybox for organ and plan drawing, scale 1".
No.1 Swoop Plan, c1920 - 1939
New ride plan, half scale.
No.1 Swoop Plan, c1920 - 1939
Section of new ride's platform and swifts plan, scale 1".
No.1 Water Dodgem Elevations, c1930 - 1939
Elevations of principal and buffer sections for No.1 water dodgem, scale 3/4".
No.1 Water Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939
Floor plan with some notes, scale 3/8".
No.1 Water Dodgems Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Side elevation of No.1 water dodgems showing outside and poles, scale 3/4".
No.2 Car Track Elevations, c1930 - 1939
Elevation drawings of No.2 car track, paybox, scale 1".
No.2 Car Track Plan, c1930 - 1939
Section of No.2 Swoop car track, full size.
No.2 Swoop Blueprint, October 1936
Blueprint of No.2 swoop section elevation alteration.
No.2 Swoop Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
No.2 Swoop centre.
No.2 Swoop Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Detail of alterations to centre tube. Drawing X1081.
No.2 Swoop Car Track, c1920 - 1939
End ridge iron of No.2 Swoop car track, full size.
No.2 Swoop Elevation, October 1936
Alteration to No.2 Swoop showing track elevation and plan of ride, scale 3/4".
No.2 Swoop Elevation, October 1936
Alterations to No.2 Swoop, scale 3/4".
No.2 Swoop Elevation, July 1936
Elevation drawing of central section of No.2 Swoop, scale 3/4".