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GEORGE CODONA’S WALTZER

One of a number of Orton & Spooner 5-hill arks built in the early 1930’s, this ride was supplied new to John Codona in December 1931. In 1934 it was sold to Anderton & Rowland (see photo right at Penzance in 1935, who travelled two (and possibly three) of these cumbersome machines. A&R in turn sold it to Con Studt in 1940, and it then went to G R Wallis in Lancashire, who probably had it rebuilt as a 4-hill machine (as were most of these 5-hill machines).
	After a spell with Remlances’ in the fifties and early sixties, it went full circle, being bought by George Codona in 1964. It was then converted to a Waltzer; being a 22 platform machine, having 11 cars. Left: at Glasgow Green, July 1978 (photo courtesy Pete Tei).
Immediately before fitting the new front and roundings, Harthill Gala, 13/06/81
	In the early 80’s, the ride was again rebuilt. New roundings, decorated by Fred Fowle, were fitted in July 1981: see below at Glasgow Green, 24/07/81. A new paybox was fitted during winter 1981/2

Close up of the new front boards at Glasgow Green, 24/07/81

The final part of the transformation was the redecoration of the cars by Fred Fowle shortly before his untimely death. These were done in a wide variety of styles, probably one of the most unusual and original sets to leave his workshop.