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The Fairground Heritage Trust is the UK's only organisation preserving items from our rich Fairground history. Click on the image to make an online donation.

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PRE-WAR WALTZERS

As a taster for this Pre-War Waltzers For Your Pleasure CD, here is a sample gallery of just a few of the photos from the disk. For more information about ordering a copy of the disk click here or on the image to the left.
   
A30 - Superb Fred Fowle artwork on Raymond Armstrong's Waltzer.
W3 - A very early Waltzer - this Lakin example was built new for Pat Collins in 1933, but owned for many years by Frank Codona, in whose ownership it is shown here at Ayr in 1981.
A64 - Originally new as a Lakin Ben Hur in 1935, John Thurston's ride was fitted with these magnificient cars when converted to a Waltzer after the Second World War. Each car carried the name of a different well known waltz.
W6 - Another of the earliest Lakin-built Waltzers was this example, new in 1935 to Hibble & Mellors. It was sold to Silcock Brothers in 1936, and travelled famously as their "Venice Waltzer" - due to the style of decoration featured. Here is a close up of one of the shutters, taken in later years, when the ride was owned by Robert Franklin.
A8 - Superbly decorated in Orton & Spooner's instantly recognisable style, here is a Waltzer car made and fitted in 1951 to John North's early German Ark.
A146 - a lovely example of classic Fred Fowle disco lettering, this Waltzer spent some years at Battersea Park with Pat O'Neill, before been sold to Albert Heal, who operated it at Brighton.
A120 - an example of Tate decor this time: Don Ive's Orton & Spooner Waltzer at Hampton Court for the August Bank Holiday fair in 1985.
A162- Decorated by Victor Manders, these Ibbotson-built waltzer cars were fitted to his 1934 Orton & Spooner-built machine.
A104 - One of the most well-known and best-loved of all arks is Anthony Shaw's 42' Orton machine. New in 1932 to Chris Johnson, it has been with the Shaw family since 1943, and still opens regularly on Wakefield Market Place, totally enclosed by its old Wartime blackout shutters. This view shows a close up of the motorcyclist artwork on the return board.
A63 - Fred Fowle artwork on the rounding board of Albert Smith's Lakin Waltzer.
A69 - More Fred Fowle: a stunning leaping tiger on the rounding board of Stanley Thurston's Lakin Waltzer.
A134 - A nicely decorated car on William Thurston's Waltzer.
W8 - Probably the most elaborated Waltzer ever built, this Lakin-built example was delivered new to William Henry Marshall in 1938. For many years it was presented by Wilkies at New Brighton, and is shown here in its later Maxwellised form

These are just a few examples from the new Pre-War built Waltzers Photo CD, which features over 130 high quality images of these popular rides. Click here for more details, and how to order.

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