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Wilkinson, Jack, 1904 - 1979 (Fairground Enthusiast)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1904 - 1979

Biography

Jack Wilkinson (1904-1979) dedicated his life to reporting the fairgrounds in and around Yorkshire between the 1920s and 1970s. He created meticulous photographic records accompanied by detailed indexes, which have become a historic record of the engines that powered the fairgrounds around Britain at the time. His knowledge and dedication gained him a lasting reputation amongst the expert engine and fairground enthusiasts as well as the travelling showmen and their families.

Jack’s love of fairgrounds emerged from his passion for steam engines. He was employed by John Fowler & Sons building engines at their factory in Leeds. This allowed him to develop in-depth technical knowledge, which in turn help him produce accurate, high quality records, making his photographs of steam engines a unique historic record of these machines in the heyday of the steam powered fair.

Aside from his job at Fowlers, Jack worked as a reporter for the World’s Fair newspaper. For over 50 years, he travelled around the fairgrounds of Yorkshire and its vicinity writing weekly articles, which he signed under the pseudonym ‘Cyclist’, a nickname he gained by always cycling between the fairs.

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Alf Lamb Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0064
Scope and Contents

Four books of newspaper cuttings mainly from the World's Fair newspaper relating to fairs, traction engines and showland personalities. The scrapbooks include the series 'Traction Engine Snaps' written by 'Cyclist'.

Dates: c1920 - 1959
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Jack Wilkinson Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0168
Scope and Contents Black and white and colour photographs and negatives of fairgrounds, fairground organs, steam engines and other transportation systems with annotations by Jack Wilkinson and other sources, such as William Keating, James Davidson, Philip Bradley and Jack Mellor, as well as notebooks, scrapbooks, journals, books, correspondence, research material, audio tapes of fairground organ music and some 3D items including Jack's recording equipment and a model of a fairground organ. Jack Wilkinson’s...
Dates: c1900 - 1979
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Scrapbooks, c1920 - 1959

 Series
Reference code: 178G9
Scope and Contents

Scrapbooks mainly from the World's Fair newspaper relating to fairs, traction engines and showland personalities.

Dates: c1920 - 1959
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Alf Lamb Collection

Scrapbooks of Fairground, Traction Engines and Showland Personalities Newspaper Cuttings, c1920 - 1959

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178G9.1
Scope and Contents

Scrapbooks mainly from the World's Fair newspaper relating to fairs, traction engines and showland personalities. The scrapbooks include the series 'Traction Engine Snaps' written by 'Cyclist'. Volumes lettered G-J. J contains 3 loose cuttings. Various dates.

Dates: c1920 - 1959
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Alf Lamb Collection / Scrapbooks

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