Scope and Contents

Photographs and scrapbooks compiled by Bernard Fielding. Each scrapbook contains a mixture of press cuttings including Fairground Mercury and World’s Fair, photographs, postcards, Paul Braithwaite history and patent material. Augmented by handwritten notes and research from other enthusiasts.

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...

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...

Scope and Contents

Prospectus and application for shares in Switchback Ventures. Typescript, 1p.

Scope and Contents

Design for a continuous car for a scenic ride with dragon's head carving at the front, also rearing horse column desing on reverse. Pencil on paper.

Scope and Contents

Sketch of swithcback entrance showing the bottom section of columns and the platform. Pencil on paper.

Scope and Contents

Highly finished design drawings for capitel, mirror frame and show fronts including the Jelly Wobble, Chas Relph, Shamrock, Noah’s ark, The Frivol, Arthur Holland’s Jack & Jill slide and half section of outside decoration for roundabout.

Scope and Contents

Humorous designs for gondola cars for switchback or scenic fairground rides.

Scope and Contents

Designs for showfronts, decorative columns and other decorative features, including the swag entrance for a scenic for Charles Thurston, a Hippodrome swag entrance, the front of switchback and scenic rides, Simnett’s shop front, Parry’s show front and the design for a fireplace. Pencil on paper.

Scope and Contents

New switchback frames for Mr J. Whiting, drawn on woven paper.

Scope and Contents

Design for gondola car showing a male fisheman on one end of the car and a sea monster type of creature on the other. Pencil on paper.

Scope and Contents

Desing for gondola car showing a footballer at each end of the car, one kicking the ball and the other being hit with it in the face. Pencil on paper.

Scope and Contents

Design for a gondola car showing a male jester at each end of the car. Pencil on paper.

Scope and Contents

Fairground drawings and photographs by Margaret Whitaker.

Scope and Contents

Paul Angel's photographs sale lists and some items of research on switchbacks.

Scope and Contents

Design for a gondola car showing a musician at each end of the car. Pencil on paper.

Scope and Contents

Copied articles on Switchbacks, their centres and organs. Material from World’s Fair, Tober, Friendship Circle of Showland Fans, Merry Go Round and Key Frame.

Scope and Contents

Drawings and designs used for the decoration of fairground rides.

Scope and Contents

Drawings and sketches of fiargrounds, fairground rides and behind the scenes sketches showing showmen and women carrying out domestic jobs drawned by Margaret Whitaker at Tiverton Fair in Devon and Nottingham Goose Fair.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.