Braithwaite, David, 1932 - 1982
Dates
- Existence: 6 October 1932 - 4 July 1982
Biography
David Julius Braithwaite was born in Luton, Bedfordshire on the 6th of October 1932. The family moved to Northampton and as a young boy David was fascinated by the fairs which visited the town and thus began his lifelong interest and passion with the travelling fairground. He often helped with the building up of the rides and got to know some of the showmen.
David attended Northampton Grammar School where he developed art and drawing as his favourite subjects. He entered the Architectural Association School at seventeen and his subsequent career in architecture included work in various practices, teaching at Leicester, Hammersmith and Kingston School of Architecture and finally establishing his own practice in Knightsbridge, London. Here he worked in domestic, the commercial and entertainment fields, including the planning of Amusement Parks. Projects included the hall of Mirrors at Madame Tussaud’s in London and a floating theatre for children of which he was co-designer. In 1975 he was the prime mover in the rescue of the Savage Company Archives from King’s Lynn.
For many years he collected material for his book Fairground Architecture (the first book of its kind on this subject) which was first published in 1968. He also wrote a book on Frederick Savage of King’s Lynn, a booklet for Shire Publications and Building in the Blood, the history of the building firm, Dove Brothers. David Braithwaite is perhaps best known for his two influential works; ‘Fairground Architecture’ and ‘Savage of Kings Lynn’.
During the 1970's he acquired the Orton and Spooner Archive, which formed the basis of a book he was preparing to write at the time of his untimely death on July 4th 1982.
Found in 105 Collections and/or Records:
Savages Ltd. Trade Sheet, c1890 - 1910
Savages Ltd trade sheet for their Flyaround Juvenile roundabout, 2p.p with illustration.
Schippers-Vanderville Leaflets, c1900 - 1959
Schippers-Vanderville advertising leaflets for Elektro-Selbstfahrer dodgem cars. Hamburg, Germany, 1p. with illustrations.
Schippers-Vanderville Leaflets, c1900 - 1959
Schippers-Vanderville advertising leaflets for Elektro-Selbstfahrer mit Vorderrad-Antrieb dodgem cars. Hamburg, Germany, 1p. with illlustrations.
Schippers-Vanderville Leaflets, c1900 - 1959
Schippers-Vanderville advertising leaflets for Elektro-Selbstfahrer dodgem cars. Hamburg, Germany, 1p. with illustrations.
Schippers-Vanderville Leaflets, c1900 - 1959
Schippers-Vanderville advertising leaflets for Elektro-Selbstfahrer dodgem cars. Hamburg, Germany, 1p. with illustrations.
Showmen and The Budget Monograph, 1927
Pat Collins and William Savage, President & Secretary of Showmen’s Guild, Showmen and The Budget. Brochure asking the government to think about travelling showmen when deciding on Motor Lorry taxation. Walsall, Imperial Buildings, 12p.p.
Steam Engine Rally and Fete Programme, 11 June 1962
Steam Engine Rally and Fete, Elham, near Canterbury. 8p.p with illustrations.
Steam Engine Rally and Fete Programme, 3 June 1963
Elham, near Canterbury. 8p.p with illustrations.
Supercar Amusement Catalogue, c1900 - 1959
Supercar Amusement Equipment catalogue of rides including Dodgem’s, Speedway car, Helter-Skelter, Dodgem track, Peter Pan railway and engine and Junior Speedway railway and car. Leamington Spa, 6p.p with ilustrations.
The East Anglian Traction Engine Club Steam Engine Rally Programme, 22 September 1962
Prested Hall, Feering, Kelvedon. 8p.p with illustrations.
The Evolution of Amusement Machines Article, 7 September 1951
The evolution of amusement machines. In: Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, No.4855, by Thomas Murphy. London, The Royal Society of Arts, pages 791- 806. with illustrations
The House of Thurston Article, 1965
The House of Thurston Feature on the Thurston Family. In: East Anglian and Essex Countryside Annual by Tom Pearce. Suffolk, Anglian Publications, pages 70-72. with illustrations
The Thirteenth West of England Steam Traction Engine Rally Programme, 17 - 18 August 1968
Sinns Barton, Redruth. 52p.p with illustrations.
Their Business is Fun Article, August 1967
Their business is fun. In: Safety, Number 38 by David Braithwaite. London, Accident Prevention Committee of the British Iron and Steel Federation, pages 27-32 with illustrations.
Thomas Walker’s Engineering Works Paper, c1960 - 1969
Thomas Walker’s Engineering Works, Tewkesbury. Descriptions of rides for sale. Typescript, 3p.p.
Tivoli Park, Copenhagen Article, 1963
Tivoli Park, Copenhagen. In: International Lighting Review, Vol 14(5), by Simon P. Henningsen. Amsterdam, Stichting Prometheus, pages 152-161 with illustrations.
Trade and Advertising Material, c1890 - 2006
Fairground ride manufacturing companies' ride specification and trade sheets including Lang Wheels, Savage Brothers, Schippers-Vanderville and Supercar Amusements among others and Wilson's Printers' fairground related supplies.
Trade Sheet for Colour Strip Targets, c1900 - 1959
Trade sheet for colour strip targets, 1p. with illustrations.
Various, c1900 - 1959
Various items including postcards and business cards.
Wallis & Steevens Ltd Trade Sheet, c1900 - 1959
Wallis & Steevens Ld trade sheet for the Advance Roller. Basingstoke, 2p.p with illustrations.