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:
Design for John Collins' Globe of Death, c1920 - 1939
Design for John Collins' globe of death procenium, showing frontage structure and lettering. Pencil on paper.
Design for Juvenile Paybox, 1933
Design for a fairground ride paybox shown from front, top and reverse. Pencil on paper.
Design for Large Noah's Ark, c1930 - 1939
Sketch of a Noah's Ark platform with dimensions. Pencil on paper.
Design for Living Waggon Ornamentation, c1875 - 1900
Design for a living waggon wall panelling and mirror. Pencil on paper.
Design for Monorail Carriages, c1920 - 1939
Design for monorail carriages and steamline carriages, drawn to scale. Pencil on paper.
Design for Mr. William Davies Top Motion Gallopers, March 1892
Desing for Mr. William Davies top motion gallopers showing different section details, drawn to scale with annotations and dimensions. Pen and ink on paper.
Design for No.1 Water Dodgem Buffers, 11 March 1928
Design for No.1 water dodgem buffers, showing the perimeter of the ride, stamped Geo. Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd. Burton on Trent. Pencil on paper.
Design for No.21 Noah's Ark, c1930 - 1939
Design for No.21 Noah's Ark rafters, with dimensions and annotations. Pencil on paper.
Design for Noah's Ark Paybox, December 1932
Side elevation for the design of a Noah's Ark ride paybox. Pencil on paper.
Design for Ride Frontage, c1875 - 1899
Design for a ride frontage showing columns and frieze with foliage decorations also design for scenic car on reverse. Pencil on paper.
Design for Ride Frontage, c1920 - 1939
Design for a ride procenium showing a small roof with plant pots on the sides and small fruiting trees, on reverse annotation reading Noah's Ark. Pencil on paper.
Design for Ride Frontage, c1930 - 1939
Sketch for ride frontage in the Art Deco style. Pencil on paper.
Design for Ride Structure, c1920 - 1939
Design of a section of a ride's holding structure with dimensions. Pencil on tracing paper.
Design for Scenic Ride Entrance, c1900 - 1910
Design of a scenic ride entrance showing column designs in the shape of a man in military outfit riding a rearing horse and a man in Beefeater's style outfit and heavily decorated freize, signed C.J. Spooner Buton on Trent. Pencil on paper.
Design for Scenic Ride Frieze, c1875 - 1899
Design for the frieze and column capital of a scenic ride showing folliage and flower decorations, signed C.J. Spooner Burton. Pencil on paper.
Design for The Frivol, c1930 - 1939
Design for The Frivol, showing frontage decorations with female figure on right hand corner and columns, stamped G. Orton Sons & Spooner. Pencil on paper.
Design for Tower Uprights Water Plates, c1920 - 1939
Full size drawing of section of tower uprights washer plates. Pencil on paper.
Design for Yoyo Frieze, c1920 - 1939
Scale sketch for Yoyo ride freize design. Pencil on paper
Design of Rearing Horse Column, c1900 - 1920
Design for a column in the shape of a man in Middle Eastern military attire on a rearing horse, signed C.J. Spooner Burton on Trent on reverse. Pen and ink on paper.
Design of Ride Sections, c1920 - 1939
Design of sections of a ride showing internal components.