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:
Ramp Loading Shed Blueprint, 7 July 1928
Blueprint showing the ramp loading shed for platforms of a Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions.
Ramp Loading Shed Blueprint, c1928 - 1929
Blueprint showing the ramp loading shed for platforms of a Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.
Ramp Loading Shed Blueprint, 13 July 1928
Blueprint showing ramp loading shed for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.
Ramp Loading Shed Blueprint, c1928 - 1929
Blueprint showing loading shed ramp for Whirlwind Racer with table of dimensions by Traver Engineering Co, Beaver Falls, P.A.
Rear Passanger Car Floor Board Blueprint, 9 September 1935
Blueprint of car floor board of rocket speedway by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y. scale 3".
Revolving Speedway Blueprint, 3 March 1936
Side elevation of revolving speedway lifting stairway, scale 1/4" by Norman Bartlett N. Tonawanda N.Y.
Revolving Speedway Blueprint, 31 March 1936
Front elevation detail of revolving speedway by Norman Bartlett N. Tonawanda N.Y. scale 1/4".
Revolving Speedway Blueprint, 4 March 1936
Designed by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda N.Y. scale 1/4".
Revolving Speedway Blueprint, c1930 - 1939
Plan and side elevation. Drawing X317.
Revolving Speedway Blueprint, 11 March 1936
Car assembly side view designed by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda N.T.scale 3".
Revolving Speedway Blueprint, 11 March 1936
Car assembly side view with correction, designed by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda N.T.scale 3".
Revolving Speedway Blueprint, 11 March 1936
Car floor and assembly, designed by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda N.T.scale 3".
Revolving Speedway Car Assembly Blueprint, 11 March 1936
Blueprint showing the side elevation of the body of a revolving speedway car by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y. scale 3".
Revolving Speedway Car Blueprint, 18 March 1936
Blueprint of body section lines for a revolving speedway car by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y. scale 3".
Revolving Speedway Car Blueprint, 18 March 1936
Blueprint showing the side elevation of the body of a speedway car by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y. scale 3".
Revolving Speedway Car Blueprint, 18 March 1936
Plan view of revolving speedway car by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y. scale 3".
Revolving Speedway Lifting Stairway Blueprint, 3 March 1936
Blueprint showing the side elevation of the lifting stairway by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y. scale 1/4".
Rib Rail Blueprint, 16 July 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail for Rocket Speedway on horizontal by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale 3/4" .
Rib Rail Blueprint, 16 July 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail for supporting centre of lower sections of Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale 3/4".
Rib Rail Blueprint, 16 July 1935
Blueprint showing rib rail for supporting top and upper sections of Rocket Speedway by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda, N.Y. scale 3/4".