Bartlett, John Norman, c1892 - 1972

Person

Dates

Existence: c1892 - 1972

Biography

John Norman Bartlett was born in England in 1892 and moved to the USA after serving during the First World War as an aircraft pilot.

During service he used to perform dangerous stunts and upon being released from service he became involved with racing cars. A trained engineer, Bartlett developed an interest in building fairground rides. He built rides for the carnivals in north America and also worked with British firms such as Orton & Spooner.

He is credited with patenting the first type of Bobsled Coaster in 1926, known as the Flying Turns, a trackless wooden chute simulating a bobsled course. Bartlett met John Miller in 1928, and they commenced building the new ride.

The first Flying Turns was built in Lakeside Park in Ohio in 1929. Bartlett opened seven further wooden Bobsled Coasters in the USA between 1930 and 1941, including at Euclid Beach Park, Cleveland in 1930, Rocky Point Amusement Park, Rhode Island in 1931 and the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, which was moved to Chicago’s Riverside Park after the fair closed in 1935.

In 1935 a Flying Turns was also built at Fyns Tivoli, Odense, Denmark, which was moved and rebuilt at the Brussels International Exposition in 1935, Berlin Olympics in 1936, Bakken near Copenhagen in the late 1930s, and finally back to Fyns Tivoli in 1951. Bartlett’s last Flying Turns was built for the 1939 New York World’s Fair, and moved to Coney Island when the event closed in 1940.

Found in 51 Collections and/or Records:

Alpine Turns Ride Car Blueprint, 14 September 1935

Item

Reference code: 178M15.28(xix)

Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing the rear view of a car by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y scale 3".

Dates: 14 September 1935

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints for Fairground Ride Designs and Mechanisms

Alpine Turns Ride Cars Blueprint, 13 September 1935

Item

Reference code: 178M15.25(xi)

Scope and Contents

Blueprint for Alpine turns ride cars, side elevation to scale by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda N.Y., AT 1500.

Dates: 13 September 1935

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints and Elevation Drawings

Alpine Turns Ride Cars Blueprint, 14 September 1935

Item

Reference code: 178M15.25(xii)

Scope and Contents

Blueprint for Alpine turns ride cars, plan view to scale by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda N.Y., AT 1502.

Dates: 14 September 1935

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints and Elevation Drawings

Blueprints and Elevation Drawings, c1909- 1939

Sub-Series

Reference code: 178M15.25

Scope and Contents Blueprints and elevation drawings of various fairground ride designs and alterations including; No.55, four bay ark extension for Nobles, running platforms, No.2 Swoop alterations, Noah’s ark sleeper plan, plan of Whirlwind racer track, rocket speedway boats, Alpine Turns ride cars, Moss Gear dodgem car, woodwork for swings, arrangement of Over the Top, hanging rods and shackles for No.4 Gem roundabout, arrangement of Newsome Whip Whop cars, electric boat unit, water dodgem plan, entrance...

Dates: c1909- 1939

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Blueprints for Fairground Ride Designs and Mechanisms, 1895 - 1946

Sub-Series

Reference code: 178M15.28

Scope and Contents Blueprints of fairground ride designs and mechanisms including; Revolving Speedway lifting stairway, front view of Swish, Castle electric scooter steering, John Jennings devizes, No.6 Ghost Train track, Murphy track carriage, bumper springs, wheels and support rollers for Yo-Yo, Weymouth alteration to Ghost Train, arrangement of No.4 Ghost Train track for Belle Vue, Proposed positive drive for boats and suggested boat unit by Testi & Comp., engineers, Mablethorpe Ghost Train track...

Dates: 1895 - 1946

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Blueprints for Ride Structures and Platforms, c1911 - 1939

Sub-Series

Reference code: 178M15.32

Scope and Contents

Blueprints for ride structures and platforms, including the Whirlwind Racer, the Rocket and Revolving Speedway and cars, Gorleston Ghost Train, No.1 Swoop and Noah’s Ark.

Dates: c1911 - 1939

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Blueprints of Whirlewind and Speedway Design and Specification, 1928 - 1935

Sub-Series

Reference code: 178M15.31

Scope and Contents

Blueprints containing drawings and specifications for the design of different parts of a Whirlwind Racer and a Rocket Speedway.

Dates: 1928 - 1935

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans

Cars for Train Ride Blueprint, 15 January 1936

Item

Reference code: 178M15.25(xiii)

Scope and Contents

Blueprint 28 passanger train ride car to scale by Norman Bartlett, N. Tonawanda N.Y.

Dates: 15 January 1936

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints and Elevation Drawings

Driver Seat Lead Car Blueprint, 19 November 1934

Item

Reference code: 178M15.28(xxxvii)

Scope and Contents

Sections of rocket speedway driver seat by Norman Bartlett N. Tonawanda N.Y.scale 1/4 size.

Dates: 19 November 1934

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints for Fairground Ride Designs and Mechanisms

Lead Car Floor Board Blueprint, 9 September 1935

Item

Reference code: 178M15.28(xxiv)

Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing section of car floor board for rocket speedway by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y. scale 3" .

Dates: 9 September 1935

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints for Fairground Ride Designs and Mechanisms

Lead Car Passanger Seat Frame Blueprint, 12 September 1935

Item

Reference code: 178M15.28(xxx)

Scope and Contents

Blueprint showing sections of a car seat for a rocket speedway by Norman Bartlett N Tonawanda N.Y. scale 3".

Dates: 12 September 1935

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Orton and Spooner Collection / Plans / Blueprints for Fairground Ride Designs and Mechanisms

Orton and Spooner Collection

Fonds

Reference code: NFA0070

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: c1870 - 1969

Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive