Savage Ltd (1850 -1973)
Dates
- Existence: 1850 - 1973
Biography
Savage Ltd was founded by Frederick Savage in 1850.
Frederick started his working life as a ten year old child in a farm making hurdles. He entered an apprenticeship under Thomas Cooper at Whitesmith and Machine Maker, a company based in East Dereham. This no doubt sparked his interest in mechanical engineering and by the time Frederick was twenty years old, he moved to King’s Lynn to work for Charles Willett, a brazier, tinplate worker, ironmonger, wholesale and retail dealer. Two years later upon his employer’s retirement, Frederick started his own business, Savages Works, making and repairing agricultural equipment.
The drainage of the Fens presented great opportunities for the firm and Savages expanded his products to cover carts, hoes, steam threshing machines and steam traction engines.
The business expanded through the 1860s and 1870s with the company occupying increasingly larger premises to accommodate more ambitious development projects and manufacture. At around this time Savage started to turn their attention to the travelling fairground and the needs of the showmen, as they presented a good market potential and an opportunity for the application of steam power to a different sector. Savage’s innovative rides soon achieved popularity among the showmen and the public alike to become one of the most sought after manufacturers in the British fairgrounds. Their products also reached the international market selling in America, Europe, Africa and Australia.
Upon Frederick's death in 1897, his sons took over the company and produced a very successful series of steam lorries. However, they could not avoid falling into financial difficulties and by 1910 the company went into liquidation and was subsequently rescued by a local consortium of businesses.
During World War One, Savages focused their efforts on the war building Voisin LA biplanes. The post war years brought about the advent of the internal combustion engine, which meant the rapid decline of steam power. The consortium continued to struggle financially and finally closed in 1973 one hundred and twenty three years after the establishment of the original company.
Found in 23 Collections and/or Records:
Bibliographies
Lists of publications and exhibitions related to steam engines, fairground ride patents and a Savages exhibition at King's Lynn.
Blueprints of Plans and Elevation Drawings for Various Fairground Rides, c1880 - 1939
Business Records, 1860 - 1975
Various documents related to the business operations of Orton and Spooner including order books, correspondence, contracts, account books, product specifications and wage books.
Correspondence, 1901 - 1976
David Braithwaite's correspondence with various people and organisations including Orton and Spooner, Savages, The British Fairground Society, the Showland Library, The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain, Allan Herschell and Kenneth Brown. Some correspondence is under his old name David Bottoms.
Correspondence with Savages, 1953 - 1957
Correspondence between David Bottoms (Braithwaite) and Savages. Typescript.
David Braithwaite Collection
This collection contains photographs taken by David Braithwaite from the 1950s and used towards his publications alongside older images collected from other sources as well as business records, monographs, articles, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, advertising material, bibliographies, catalogues, programmes, films and some other miscellaneous items.
Frederick Savage Leaflet, c1890 - 1899
Frederick Savage advertising leaflet for hand and steam power roundabouts. King’s Lynn, 1p. with illustrations.
Letter from Savages Limited to Mr Enoch Farrar, 7 August 1923
Letter from Savages Limited to Mr Enoch Farrar, including accounts. Typescript and manuscript.
List of Exhibits, 1975
List of Frederick Savage’s exhibits in King’s Lynn Festival.
Orton and Spooner Collection
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.
Plan for Switchback, 31 August 1894
Plan and narrow frames for switchback for Aspland, stamped F. Savage Co. Limited, King's Lynn England, Engineers and Machinists.
Plans, 1922 - 1965
List of rides at Nottingham Goose Fair and Savages ride plan.
Ride Plan, 22 June 1922
Decorative and functional fittings at King’s Lynn. Drawing 1895/20. Highly detailed drawings of decorative fittings such as figurines, functional brass bearings and rods, crankshafts and platform slides. Savages Ltd.
Savage Brothers Leaflet, c1903
Savage Brothers Ltd leaflet advertising the manufacturing of wheels, 2p.p.
Savage Brothers Limited Catalogue, c1890 - 1910
Savage Brothers Limited catalogue for brick and clayworking machinery. King’s Lynn, 22p.p with illustrations.
Savage Brothers Limited Catalogue, c1890 - 1910
Savage Brothers Limited illustrated catalogue of traction and portable engines and agricultural machinery. King’s Lynn, 78p.p with illustrations.
Savage Brothers Limited Catalogue, c1890 - 1910
Savage Brothers Limited illustrated catalogue of traction and portable engines, agricultural machinery, brickmaking machinery and other products. King’s Lynn, 60p.p with illlustrations.
Savages List of Exhibitis, 1975
List of exhibits by Frederick Savage at King’s Lynn Festival 1975 by David Braithwaite. Typescript.
Savages Ltd. Trade Sheet, c1890 - 1910
Savages Ltd trade sheet for their Flyaround Juvenile roundabout, 2p.p with illustration.
Sketch of Toastrack Car for Switchback, c1900 - 1929
Desing for scenic railway car with four benches and carving decorations, probably designed for Savages. Carved panels added under seats and at rear. Pencil on paper.