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George Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd (1875 - 1977)

 Organisation

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.36 Section and Canopy Elevations, c1920 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.35(xli)
Scope and Contents

Elevation drawings of section and canopy for No.36.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.42 Ark Ceiling Drawing, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.35(xlix)
Scope and Contents

No.42 ark entrance ceiling bracing, scale 1".

Dates: c1880 - 1899

No.42 Noah's Ark Plan, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.36(i)
Scope and Contents

Plan of section of No.42 ark sleepers and entrance plan, scale 1".

Dates: c1930 - 1939

No.45 Ark Plan, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.35(xlvii)
Scope and Contents

Plan for William Murphy's No.45 ark.

Dates: c1880 - 1899

No.45 Noah's Ark Elevation, December 1932

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.35(xlv)
Scope and Contents

Elevation of No.45 Noah's Ark paybox, scale 1" and section of roof plan.

Dates: December 1932

No.45 Noah's Ark Plan, December 1932

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.36(iii)
Scope and Contents

Pencil drawing showing partial floor plan of ark, scale 3/4".

Dates: December 1932

No.47 Noah's Ark Elevation, March 1933

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.34(xix)
Scope and Contents

Elevation and plan for No.47 Noah's Ark' central organ box, scale 1".

Dates: March 1933

No.48 Ark Elevation, c1900 - 1929

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.35(li)
Scope and Contents

Elevation and plan for No.48 ark's centre, scale 1".

Dates: c1900 - 1929

No.48 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939

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

Complete floor plan for No.48 dodgem.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.48 Dodgem Platform, c1920 - 1939

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

Floor plan showing dodgem track and circle end, with notes and dimensions.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.48 Dodgmen Detail Drawings, c1920 - 1939

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

Drawings of No.48 dodgem buffer and floor sections.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.49 Dodgem Pay Box Designs, c1920 - 1939

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

Elevations and details drawings of No.49 dodgem pay box.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.50 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939

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

Plan and track elevation for No.50 dodgem.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.52 Dodgem Elevation, c1920 - 1939

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

Front elevation of No.52 dodgem, scale 1/2".

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.52 Dodgem Elevation, c1920 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.35(iii)
Scope and Contents

Elevation drawing of section of No.52 dodgem.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.52 Dodgem Elevation, c1920 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.35(xliv)
Scope and Contents

Elevation drawing of dropper and boards for No.52 dodgem.

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.52 Dodgem Paybox Elevation, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.35(lii)
Scope and Contents

Elevation drawing of No.52 dodgem paybox.

Dates: c1930 - 1939

No.52 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.36(xii)
Scope and Contents

Floor plan of No.52 dodgem tracks, scale 1/2".

Dates: c1920 - 1939

No.52 Noah's Ark Elevation, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.34(xxxi)
Scope and Contents

Front elevation of No.52 Noah's ark entrance, scale 3/4".

Dates: c1930 - 1939

No.53 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939

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

Plan for No.53 dodgem track, scale 1/2".

Dates: c1920 - 1939