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:
Slide Design, c1920 - 1939
Design for straight slide extension for Arthur Holland, scale 1".
Smart and Elsom Sign Design, c1920 - 1939
Design for promotional sign for Smart and Elsom Timber Importers and Merchants, Derby & Hull. Pencil and black ink on paper with desing annotations around the edges.
Speed Bowl Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Blueprint showing plan and front elevations of speed Bowl by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y. scale 1/4".
Speed Bowl Blueprint, 1 May 1936
Design by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda N.Y. scale 3".
Speed Bowl Blueprint, 27 January 1936
Plan and side elevations by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda N.Y. scale 1/4".
Steam Engine Elevation, c1875 - 1920
Side elevation of Little Samson steam engine. Signed J.B.
Steel Pivot and Cap Castings Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Blueprint showing details of steel pivot and cap castings for YoYo machine by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd.
Steel Plates Drawing, c1920 - 1939
Drawing of detail of steel plates for No.9 ride.
Steel Track Lock Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Detail of steel track lock with notes.
Struts and Bracing Blueprint, 18 March 1929
Blueprint showing longitudinal struts and bracing for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.
Struts and Bracing Blueprint, 29 May 1928
Blueprint showing longitudinal struts and bracing for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.
Super Jungle Front Rounding Board Artwork, c1900 - 1929
Colour design for John Codona's Super Jungle ride front rounding board, scale 3/4".
Supporting Rollers Blueprint, 22 November 1932
Blueprint showing the detail of the supporting rollers for a YoYo machine by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd. Contains pencil annotations.
Swan Decoration, c1900 - 1920
Detail of ride frontage decoration showing a swan in a pond on the left side and some scroll decorations.
Swings Elevation, c1880 - 1899
Elevation drawings of Whiting's High Flyer swings.
Swish Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Blueprint showing the front section of a swish, the outside view and the top centre hanging frames, scale 1/4". Drawing Y340.
Swithback Entrance Design, c1875 - 1899
Design for rustic style switchback entrance, showing heavy folliage decorations and tree trunk style columns. Pen and ink on paper.
Tank Drawing, c1930 - 1949
Sketch showing a tank on a fild and a boy in a soldier's uniform behind. Pencil on grid lined paper.
Terminal Box Blueprint, 11 November 1925
Blueprint of diagram of connections of terminal box P.C. as motor and as generator, stamped by Mather & Platt Ltd., of Manchester, X36770.
Terminal Box Blueprint, 11 November 1925
Blueprint of diagram of connections of terminal box as motor and generator, stamped by Mather & Platt Ltd., of Manchester, X36771.