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:
Rib Rail Blueprint, 17 August 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail support center intersection of Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale half size.
Rib Rail Blueprint, 19 August 1935
Blueprint showing lower rib rail support for Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale half size.
Rib Rail Blueprint, 17 August 1935
Blueprint showing lower rib rail support for Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale half size.
Rib Rail Blueprint, 17 August 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail support at top of Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale half size.
Rib Rail Blueprint, 17 August 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail support at top, joint lower and intersection for Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale half size.
Rib Rail Blueprint, 16 July 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail for supporting bottom of lower sections of Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale 3/4".
Rib Rail Blueprint, 16 July 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail of Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale 3/4" .
Rib Rail Blueprint, 17 August 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail supports for Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale half size.
Rib Rail Blueprint, 8 August 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail support for center lower section of Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale 3/8".
Rib Rail Blueprint, 15 July 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail support at center of intersection of Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale 3/4".
Rib Section Detail, 24 July 1935
Rib section details for Rocket Speedway.
Ride Car Plan, c1920 - 1939
Partial plan of a ride car front section with some notes.
Ride Elevations Blueprint, 21 November 1931
Blueprint for drawing E5895 showing different elevations.
Ride Entrance and Exit Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Detail of ride entrance and exit.
Ride Entrance Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Design for Holland's showfront entrance with some notes.
Ride Entrance Plan, c1900 - 1929
Sketch of entrance plan for a ride for H. Thurston with dimensions and notes. Pencil on paper.
Ride Frontage Design, c1880 - 1910
Design for ride frontage showing procenium, columns with foliage decorations and shields and garlands hanging between the columns. Pencil on paper.
Ride Frontage Sketch, c1900 - 1929
Front elevation design of a ride frontage showing the entrance with two sets of steps and a side elevation, stamped G. Orton Sons & Spooner Ltd. Pencil on paper.
Ride Plan, c1920 - 1939
Partial floor plan of a ride, possibly an ark, scale 1".
Ride Specifications, c1930 - 1939
Specifications for the building of a Wall of Death. 3p.p.