Carters Steam Fair (1977 - 2022)
Dates
- Existence: 1977 - 2022
Biography
Carters Steam Fair began in 1977 when show promoters John (1942–2000) and Anna Carter acquired a set of Jubilee Steam Gallopers.
The business model they use is based on rescuing and restoring historic English fairground rides and side stall dating between the 1870s and the 1960s and bringing them back to life. The family have focused not just on the mechanical workings of the machines but also on the traditional artwork, which makes their rides unique in the fairground. Over the years most of the artwork was done by Anna and later by her son Joby, who is a leading expert in the sector.
Since the inception of the business, their collection of rides and stalls has increased and today Carters Steam Fair travel the largest collection of vintage fairground rides in the world around their traditional grounds in London and the South East of England.
John and Anna had three children Joby, Amber and Rosie, all of whom followed their parents into the business. Additionally, Anna had two children from a previous marriage Zed and Seth and John had another two also from a previous relationship Miranda and Lincoln.
In 2000 when John died, his family and extended family continued to run the business. In more recent years Joby and his wife Georgina have taken over the managing of the fair from Anna.
Carters currently have their operating base and restoration workshops near White Waltham Airfield, in Berkshire.
Carters stopped travelling in 2022 and sold their equipment.
Found in 23 Collections and/or Records:
Auction Sale Catalogue, 19 November 2000
Auction sale catalogue of slot machines property of Mr John Carter with accompanying letter. Typescript and black and white photographs, 8p.p.
Bill Garbett Collection
Colour and black and white photographs mainly taken by Bill Garbett of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs and transport owned by Pat Collins Fun Fair, Carters Steam Fair and the showman Alfred Stevens.
Calendars, 2004 - 2010
Carters Steam Fairs promotional calendars containing images by Brian Steptoe and Anna Carter.
Carters Funfair Calendar, 2004
Contains photographs by Brian Steptoe.
Carters Funfair Calendar, 2005
Contains photographs by Brian Steptoe.
Carters Funfair Calendar, 2006
Contains images of Anna Carter’s fairground art.
Carters Funfair Calendar, 2008
Published in conjunction with Jumper Books. Contains photographs by Brian Steptoe.
Carters Funfair Calendar, 2009
Published in conjunction with Jumper Books. Contains photographs by Brian Steptoe.
Carters Funfair Calendar, 2010
Published in conjunction with Jumper Books. Contains photographs by Brian Steptoe.
Carters' Gallopers Related Correspondence, 1994 - 1995
Correspondence regarding research on Carters' gallopers for book.
Carters Royal Berkshire Steam Fair Handbill, 2 - 25 August c1980s
Weston-super-Mare. Colour bi-fold handbill with photographic images and red and white type containing celebrity reviews.
Carters' Steam Fair Handbill, c1990 - 2000
Royal Berkshire Steam Fair. Rides, firework displays and working steams. Colour bi-fold handbill with photographic images and graphics and colour type, containing coupons and celebrity reviews, full body photograph of Richard Wilson riding a galloper on the front page.
Chris Russell Collection
This collection contains five boxes of original photographic material including negatives and slides, a small amount of fairground journals, newspaper cuttings, correspondence, six audio tapes and a small amount of posters and handbills all related to the fairground and steam rally events.
Correspondence, 1958 - 2001
Correspondence related to Paul Braithwaite's research for his books including 'Swings', 'Overboats' and 'Arcades & Slot Machines'.
Handbills, 1979 - 2012
Handbills for steam fairs, fairgrounds and other similar events collected by Chris Russell.
Monographs, Articles and Research Material, c1980 - 2000
Interview transcriptions and research material carried out by Paul Braithwaite for various books, including 'Arcades & Slot Machines', 'A Palace on Wheels' and 'Overboats'.
Paul Braithwaite Collection
This collection contains issues of ten different fairground related publications, transcriptions of taped interviews with different fairground showmen and families, related correspondence and research used for the purpose of Paul Braithwaite’s publication work. There are also small pockets of photographic images, advertising material and an obituary for Joe Fletcher.
Peter Wellen Collection
The collection contains black and white and colour prints of fairground rides and transport, mainly of British southern counties fairs and rallies in the 1960s. There are also some American amusement park images, manuscripts for the first 6 issues of 'Century of Tobers' (Fairground Association of Great Britain) magazine, a small selection of calendars produced by Carters funfair and commercially produced DVDs on the fairground and preservation movement.
Photographs, 1937 - 1994
Black and white and colour photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs and transport, mostly by Bill Garbett.
Photographs of Fairgrounds Taken by Bill Garbett and Other Contributors, 1937 - 1994
Black and white and colour photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs and transport. Most images taken by Bill Garbett including Pat Collins firms' steam engines, Carters' Gallopers and Octopus, Arthur Stevens' Lighthouse Slip and scenes of fairs such as Nottingham Goose Fair.
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 19
- Collection 4
- Subject
- Amusement parks 1
- Amusement rides 20
- Ark 1
- Big wheel 1
- Caravans 3
- Dodgems 1
- Fairground art 19
- Fairs 22
- Gallopers 11
- Games 4
- Ghost train 1
- Musical performances 5
- Octopus 5
- Showman 4
- Slide 5
- Swing boats 3
- Transport 10
- Wall of death 2
- Waltzer 1 + ∧ less