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.36 Section and Canopy Elevations, c1920 - 1939
Elevation drawings of section and canopy for No.36.
No.42 Ark Ceiling Drawing, c1880 - 1899
No.42 ark entrance ceiling bracing, scale 1".
No.42 Noah's Ark Plan, c1930 - 1939
Plan of section of No.42 ark sleepers and entrance plan, scale 1".
No.45 Ark Plan, c1880 - 1899
Plan for William Murphy's No.45 ark.
No.45 Noah's Ark Elevation, December 1932
Elevation of No.45 Noah's Ark paybox, scale 1" and section of roof plan.
No.45 Noah's Ark Plan, December 1932
Pencil drawing showing partial floor plan of ark, scale 3/4".
No.47 Noah's Ark Elevation, March 1933
Elevation and plan for No.47 Noah's Ark' central organ box, scale 1".
No.48 Ark Elevation, c1900 - 1929
Elevation and plan for No.48 ark's centre, scale 1".
No.48 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939
Complete floor plan for No.48 dodgem.
No.48 Dodgem Platform, c1920 - 1939
Floor plan showing dodgem track and circle end, with notes and dimensions.
No.48 Dodgmen Detail Drawings, c1920 - 1939
Drawings of No.48 dodgem buffer and floor sections.
No.49 Dodgem Pay Box Designs, c1920 - 1939
Elevations and details drawings of No.49 dodgem pay box.
No.50 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939
Plan and track elevation for No.50 dodgem.
No.52 Dodgem Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Front elevation of No.52 dodgem, scale 1/2".
No.52 Dodgem Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Elevation drawing of section of No.52 dodgem.
No.52 Dodgem Elevation, c1920 - 1939
Elevation drawing of dropper and boards for No.52 dodgem.
No.52 Dodgem Paybox Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Elevation drawing of No.52 dodgem paybox.
No.52 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939
Floor plan of No.52 dodgem tracks, scale 1/2".
No.52 Noah's Ark Elevation, c1930 - 1939
Front elevation of No.52 Noah's ark entrance, scale 3/4".
No.53 Dodgem Plan, c1920 - 1939
Plan for No.53 dodgem track, scale 1/2".