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:
No.9 Wall of Death Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Front elevation of No.9 wall of death parading stage with canopy, scale 1".
No.13 Ghost Train Blueprint, 3 December 1931
Arrangement of No.13 ghost train track for Belle Vue by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd, scale 3/8". Drawing X469.
No.14 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939
Plan of No.14 dodgem portable box.
No.14 Ghost Train Blueprint, 2 February 1932
Arrangement of No.14 ghost train track for Averdeen (Belle Vue crossed out) by Messrs Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd, scale 3/8". Drawing X481.
No.16 Noah's Ark Plan, July 1933
Plan of No.16 Noah's ark alterations, scale 1/2".
No.20 Rocket Speedway Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Elevation of No.20 Rocket Speedway gali, scale 1 and 1/2".
No.21 Rocket Speedway Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Elevation of section of Rocket Speedway, scale 1 and 1/2".
No.22 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939
Complete floor plan for No.22 dodgem.
No.22 Rocket Speedway Gates Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Elevation drawing of rocket speedway gates for No.22 and No.5.
No.24 Monorail Plan, c1930 - 1939
Floor plan of No.24 monorail with large size carriages, scale 1".
No.29 and No.35 Dodgems Plan, c1920 - 1939
Floor plan and elevation of No.29 and No.35 dodgems with specifications on bottom sections.
No.30 Ark Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Elevation of central section for No.30 Ark showing poles and rafters, scale 3/4".
No.30 Noah's Ark Plan, c1930 - 1939
Plan for No.30 Noah's ark showing gates and frames, scale 3/4".
No.30 Noah's Ark Plan, c1920 - 1939
Floor plan section of No.30 Noah's Ark with annotations, scale 3/4".
No.31 Noah's Ark Plan, c1930 - 1939
No.31 Ark extension sleepers plan for Frank Codona, scale 1/2".
No.32 Noah's Ark Elevations, c1930 - 1939
Elevation drawings of sections of Anderton's No.32 Noah's including the centre organ stand.
No.33 Ark Extension Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Elevation of central section of No.33 Ark showging paybox and plan, scale 1".
No.33 Ark Extension Plan, c1930 - 1939
Plan of No.33 Ark extension, scale 1/2".
No.33 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939
Floor plan of track and elevation drawings for No.33 Blackpool, Olympia.
No.35 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939
Complete floor plan for No.35 dodgem and section of platform elevation with annotations on the bottom.