Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing the arrangement of the ghost train track for Belle Vue by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd. scale 3/8". Drawing X481.

Scope and Contents

Various bulletings produced by Belle Vue, black and white photographs of performers and acts with news and reports about Belle Vue and comic strips including Belle Vue Bulletin, Belle Vue Circus Fun and International Circus News.

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...

Scope and Contents

Extension to No.13 track for Belle Vue ghost train, scale 3/8" by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner. Drawing X469a.

Scope and Contents

Layout sketches and blueprints for Ghost Train tracks and details drawings, as well as blueprints of sections of cradles, including design for Belle Vue, Brixton, Bournemouth, Weymouth and Hastings.

Scope and Contents

Arrangement of No.13 ghost train track for Belle Vue by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd, scale 3/8". Drawing X469.

Scope and Contents

Arrangement of No.13 ghost train track for Belle Vue by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd, scale 3/8". Drawing X469.

Scope and Contents

Arrangement of No.14 ghost train track for Averdeen (Belle Vue crossed out) by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd, scale 3/8". Drawing X481.

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.

Scope and Contents

Blueprints of electric parts for fairground rides supplied by Mather & Platt Ltd and Hackett & Co., Electrical Engineers to Orton and Spooner.

Scope and Contents

A range of items of promotion and advertising from a range of circus companies and performers, including artistes' photographs with act descriptions used for seeking employment in circuses and pamphlets advertising independent performances and circus companies' literature and souvenirs for public distribution and promotion including Gerry Cottle's Circus, Belle Vue, Blackpool Tower, Bertram Mills Circus, Gandey's, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey, Knie and many more.