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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:

Bearing and Shaft Drawing, 1 February 1915

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

Full size front elevation and size drawings of pedestal bearing and shaft drawn standard size as Savages, signed Orton Sons and Spooner. Pencil on paper.

Dates: 1 February 1915
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Original Artwork / Plans and Drawings for Ride Mechanisms and Components

Blueprint, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.32(ix)
Scope and Contents

Unidentified blueprint.

Dates: c1930 - 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints for Ride Structures and Platforms

Blueprint, c1930 - 1939

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.32(xxii)
Scope and Contents

Unknown blueprint.

Dates: c1930 - 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints for Ride Structures and Platforms

Blueprint of Bearings, Shafts and Washers, 4 February 1911

 Item
Reference code: 178M15.32(xxviii)
Scope and Contents

Blankend bearings, shafts and washers, scale full inch and half inch by Browns Foundry Co., Hurst & Wallis Techinical Photographers 22 Sadlergate, Derby.

Dates: 4 February 1911
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints for Ride Structures and Platforms

Blueprints and Elevation Drawings, c1909- 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.25
Scope and Contents Blueprints and elevation drawings of various fairground ride designs and alterations including; No.55, four bay ark extension for Nobles, running platforms, No.2 Swoop alterations, Noah’s ark sleeper plan, plan of Whirlwind racer track, rocket speedway boats, Alpine Turns ride cars, Moss Gear dodgem car, woodwork for swings, arrangement of Over the Top, hanging rods and shackles for No.4 Gem roundabout, arrangement of Newsome Whip Whop cars, electric boat unit, water dodgem plan, entrance...
Dates: c1909- 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Blueprints for Fairground Ride Designs and Mechanisms, 1895 - 1946

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.28
Scope and Contents Blueprints of fairground ride designs and mechanisms including; Revolving Speedway lifting stairway, front view of Swish, Castle electric scooter steering, John Jennings devizes, No.6 Ghost Train track, Murphy track carriage, bumper springs, wheels and support rollers for Yo-Yo, Weymouth alteration to Ghost Train, arrangement of No.4 Ghost Train track for Belle Vue, Proposed positive drive for boats and suggested boat unit by Testi & Comp., engineers, Mablethorpe Ghost Train track...
Dates: 1895 - 1946
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Blueprints for Fairground Rides and Transport, c1875 - 1949

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.26
Scope and Contents

Plans for fairground rides and transport including loco boiler for fixing on truck, arrangement of KS Tangye gas engine, section of Water Dodgem propeller unit, Houdley truck, Mrs Murphy’s truck, Little Samson steam engine, No.64 Ark truck and Pullman living wagons.

Dates: c1875 - 1949
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

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
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Blueprints of Plans and Elevation Drawings for Various Fairground Rides, c1875 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.34
Scope and Contents Plans and elevation drawings for various fairground rides, including No.2 car track, Whirlwind racer, Switchback frames for J. Whiting, Weymouth Ghost Train, No.1 and No.2 Swoops, No.1, No.2, No.3, No.11, No.16 (alterations), No.33 (extension), No.47, No.52, No.54 and No.64 Arks, No.30 Noah’s Ark, No.31 Ark extension and No.4 alterations to the front for Frank Codona, cut out of motorcycle, Yo-Yo, No.8 Ghost Train, survey of ground for the Ghost Train Westover Amusement Park Bournemouth and...
Dates: c1875 - 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Blueprints of Plans and Elevation Drawings for Various Fairground Rides, c1880 - 1939

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.35
Scope and Contents Plans and elevation drawings for various fairground rides, including No.64 Ark, No.52, No.54 Dodgems, No.1 Water Dodgem, Whirlwind racer design and electrical diagram, Yo-Yo centre drum, Swings, Joy Wheel, track for Gymnastic railway for East Coast Amusements, Ghost Train, Scenic No.1, commercial development on Burton-upon-Trent, Wall of Death, No.3 Monorail, No.8 Ghost train, Auto Skooter for Blackpool Olympia, Anderton and Rowland’s Dodgem’s carrier, No.45 Ark pay box, Codona’s Noah’s Ark...
Dates: c1880 - 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

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
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

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
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Blueprints of Whirlewind and Speedway Design and Specification, 1928 - 1935

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178M15.31
Scope and Contents

Blueprints containing drawings and specifications for the design of different parts of a Whirlwind Racer and a Rocket Speedway.

Dates: 1928 - 1935
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Bogie Wheels Drawings, c1920 - 1939

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

Four sketches of sections of bogie wheels.

Dates: c1920 - 1939
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints of Plans and Elevation Drawings for Various Fairground Rides

Book of Diagrams of Machines and Ironwork, 1913

 Item
Reference code: 178H8.16
Scope and Contents

Book of diagrams of machines and ironwork, containing hand drawings with dimensions, tear off pages, carbon copies and some lose pages.

Dates: 1913
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Business Records

Book of Orders, 1927 - 1928

 Item
Reference code: 178H8.6
Scope and Contents

Book of orders containing lose documents and information on various suppliers.

Dates: 1927 - 1928
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Business Records

Books of Letters, 1894 - 1910

 File
Reference code: 178H8.9
Scope and Contents

Books of letters containing copies of business letters.

Dates: 1894 - 1910
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Business Records

Bostock's Menagerie Front Design, c1890 - 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(iv)
Scope and Contents

Front elevation of Bostock's menagerie, showing heaving carving jungle decorations, scale.

Dates: c1890 - 1910
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Original Artwork / Design Drawings for Ride and Show Fronts

Bostock's Menagerie Front Design, c1880 - 1899

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(xi)
Scope and Contents

Jungle design wih statues of people and animals for Bostock's menagerie show.

Dates: c1880 - 1899
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Original Artwork / Design Drawings for Ride and Show Fronts

Bostock's Menagerie Front Design, c1890 - 1910

 Item
Reference code: 178V10.54(xiv)
Scope and Contents

Front elevation of Bostock's menagerie truck, showing heaving carving decorations, scale 3/4".

Dates: c1890 - 1910
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Original Artwork / Design Drawings for Ride and Show Fronts

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