Carters Steam Fair

At last a real vintage carousel, and a whole lot more! 

Carters Steam Fair is a truly fantastic! A beautifully decorated traditional vintage steam fair, a true work of art. I am so excited because now I have something real to structure part of the fantasy within The Itchycoo Story. I have borrowed the history and information below from The Carters Steam Fair website, if you would like to see more look here .

The Silver Jubilee

Steam Gallopers

Silver Jubilee

Steam Gallopers

The earliest days of this Tidman set of gallopers are beyond human memory and there is a lack of any written evidence for the era. There are many ideas about the origin of the ride, but it is believed it was owned firstly by the Harris family c1895. In c1921 the ride was acquired by Ted Andrews of Kent. It is believed that it did travel during his ownership until sold to William 'Bill' Penfold c1938, also of Kent. War regulations meant the ride was put into storage for a time until the laws were relaxed.

The gallopers were sold to a gypsy,turned Showman John King in 1948, and the ride travelled the South Yorkshire area. Bill Bradley, a Preston based professional Showman, purchased the set in early 1952 for £1000. The ride was exchanged in 1956 for Oliver Aveyard's heavy, steel-plated Swirl. During his ownership, the ride was opened at Burnham Beeches pleasure grounds. The pleasure grounds were sold in 1961, together with the Gallopers to John Lovett. In 1963/64 Lovett made several significant changes to the gallopers  John Carter bought the gallopers from John Lovett after a meeting, however the ride remained in operation until the end of the 1976 season. Once collected, John began major renovation work and the partly finished gallopers were seen in operation at events during the 1970s. The machine log book reveals an intense and dedicated pursuit of safety and historical perfection. John renamed the ride in 1977 "The Queens Silver Jubilee Steam Gallopers". This name celebrated the Queen's Jubilee year and also marked the return of the ride to steam power after 25 years. When the gallopers reached their centenary year (1995) the machine was extensively redecorated using vast amounts of gold. Much of the artwork on the set was completed by Anna Carter.

Since the winter of 2006-07 the gold-leafing the horses has been repainted.  During the winter of 2008-09 the gold-leafed rounding boards and centre boards were completed.

Toy Town

This is a Halstead platform ride. Carters  acquired it in 1988. The whole ride has been restored and has 19 vintage cars, bikes and horses. In 1993 the shields were added onto the rounding boards.

Through The Looking Glass, Mirror Show.

The Excelsior Steam Yachts

Excelsior Steam Yachts

The steam yachts were built by Savages of Kings Ling in 1921. The original boats were named Shamrock and Valerie. When the ride was first built it was travelled by Yorkshire showman Joe Ling, until his death in 1957. It was then purchased in 1958 by G & H Thompson of New Brighton, and then passed to Lancashire showman Walter Hackett by 1960. Mr Hackett removed the steam engine within the ride and converted the ride to diesel drive. In 1961 it was sold to the Scottish family Gamble, who travelled it until 1969 when it was scrapped and laid up in a Glasgow scrapyard until Carters purchased it in 1975. All of the essential parts were stored until 1982 and the fate of the original centre engine was unknown and presumed scrapped.

The engine currently in the yachts was originally built in 1901 for Waddingtons. The engine was put out of use in 1948 by Harry Lee after 47 years of continuous work. We purchased it in 1982. The Dean organ on the ride was commissioned by us as we wanted a strident organ for work on the fair. It was delivered in 1984 and has always been a good reliable organ.

Carters restored the yachts over the winters of 1982-1984. The engine had new tubes, new stays, rebuilt mud hole areas, and an extensive mechanical overhaul including new big ends, slides, and rabbit gear rebuild. A new chassis was also included in the restoration work, along with new chains, pins and under works. We built new legs and stays with wood imported from Canada. New trams, hills, steps and spindle turned gates were also made. The boats were built entirely by Chalkie White. The were many other new pieces of the ride made including front boards, pillars, name boards, organ front and pay desk. The sign writing on the ride was completed by Chris Hopes, the decoration by John Pockett and the scenic paintings by Anna Carter. The whole machine was faithfully renewed by using the remaining patterns on the ride or by measuring Harry Lee's Yachts. Mr Lee used to come down south to drive our machine for the first few seasons and he taught the young Carter boys how to drive it too.

It is now transported on 2 WW2 Eagle trailers. Work has continued on the ride over the years and these improvements include having the Union Jack and Stars and Stripes US flags being painted on the bottom of the boats by Joby Carter in 1996. Joby Carter operates this ride.

Swing Boats

Adult/Park Swing boats

Built c1920 by Thomas of Chertsey, these swingboats

Juvenile Swing boats

It is unclear when this set of Swing boats were made as the first date recorded is from the sale from Showman Fred Hunt of Scunthorpe to John Pullin in 1939. This 4 boat set travelled around South Yorkshire until sold to James Holmes in the 1970's for £100. The set remained in storage from the time of purchase until Mr Holmes' widow sold them to Henry Bell in the early 1980's. He travelled them throughout most the 1980's with the family fair. The name boards were decorated 'High-Bell's-Flyers' and did not have lights fitted. The boats were in use until sold to John Carter in 1988. Seth Carter purchased them in 1989, however they were never opened or used. The ride remained in storage until 1994 when Joby Carter bought the swings and redecorated them over the winter of 1994-95. Decor included RAF rounding boards and the top boards proclaim "Joby Carter's White Waltham Flyer".

Lightning Skid

This stall was built by Noah Shaws' Father and was purchased it in 1993, when repairs were made with the addition of a new front board. It was repainted by Anna Carter and sign written by Stan Wilkinson. Scrolls by Joby Carter were added which are a charming addition which would have been typical of the era the stall was originally from. It is now travelled by the Todd family.

Jungle Thriller Ark

Jungle Thriller Ark

Built by Orton & Spooner in the early 1930's for William Thurston Jr. and sold to Teddy Andrews in c.1938. The ride was travelled until the early 1980's. Joby Carter purchased the ride in 2005.
It is an early 42ft Ark and is believed to be the most original left in existence. When it was built it marked the dawn of a new era and at the time was classed as a light-weight ride! Art deco designs feature strongly throughout the whole ride and since the 1930's this form of design has continued to be prominent in fairground art.
Since obtaining the ride, Joby Carter has begun and completed its restoration. The ride retains its original decoration and we believe this is the most thorough restoration of any Ark to date.
The ride is now travelling with Carters and had its official opening at West Wycombe in 2006.
The ark has had some major work this winter (2008-09) and work will continue before the 2009 season commences. Work includes paint touching up and new gratings. This ride is run by Joby Carter

Octopus

This ride was built by Hayes Fabrication in 1961 for Tom Smith & Sons of Leighton Buzzard. In 1978, the ride had not been used for many years and was sold to Gerry Cottle who travelled it briefly in 1993. During ownership Gerry Cottle had the ride redecorated in 1992 by Bobby Ayers. The original decoration had been undertaken by Fred Fowle.
Carters purchased the ride in 1993 and undertook a restoration in 1994, which focused on the mechanism. This ride has general maintenance performed on it over the winter months each year.

Love this photo

Coconut Shy

The Slip

Owned by Mike & Kerrie Rule, Cambs, this lighthouse slip is a regular visitor to Carters Steam Fair.

The Great Wall of Death!!! 

The Bikes!

No Hands

No hands, No legs!

Two at a time

Three at a time! 

(a little blurry, above -you can make out an arm bottom centre to see the third, below- three in a line)

Messhams Wall of Death presents and operates Europe’s oldest motorcycle sport show.
For over 80 years the Messham family now in its fourth generation, have established and upheld an international reputation for excellence of performance and presentation of this unique and thrilling entertainment The Wall of Death.
“The smallest and steepest race track in the world.”
A visit to the Wall of Death fulfils the need for excitement, satisfies a lust for danger.
The spectacle of ever present danger, bravado coupled with the inevitable anticipation that something may go wrong as the artists cling to their machines, steering them with their feet, sitting sideways, backwards and forwards breaking down the forces of gravity.

The Arcade's Slot Machines

The Arcade

Carters started travelling an Old Penny Arcade in the late 1980s. Vintage slot machines were a passion of the late John Carter, and he was an avid collector of the machines. There is a large collection of all the classic machines, including Allwins, What the Butler saw, Cranes, Laughing Sailor and One Armed Bandits to name a few. Although there are many private collections around the world, our Arcade has the largest display of vintage machines available to the public - to look at, admire and of course play.

A Caravan Home

Transport

Victorious

Why Worry

Carters Steam Fair, 

Some words from the late John Carter's Wife.

Carters Steam Fair was born from one mans vision, inspired to collect vintage Fairground rides before it became fashionable to do so, this man was my late husband John Carter.
John had always had a passion for gathering old and interesting items, ranging from slot machines, American cars, horn gramophones, postcards, 78rpm jazz records, pottery, tins etc etc. when his collecting obsession moved onto fairground rides we catapulted into an entirely new league, the house was at bursting point, it was a mission to find enough floor space to access the settee, not that there was enough time left in the day to enjoy
the luxury of sitting on it!
The front garden now became a Showman's yard, corrugated tin shed springing
up as the demand required, at this point the neighbours started to complain.
For some reason I went along with John's schemes, he processed a great knack
of infusing everyone with enthusiasm, also I found my niche decorating the
rides, I discovered that I loved it.
The children were involved at an early age, helping in the sheds, the elder ones looking after the younger ones while we worked and finally learning to hop on the Gallopers and take money, from the start its been a family affair.
Sometimes when we are winching on or off a sodden ground with the rain slashing down and a howling gale, I do question my sanity, but on the up side we get such satisfaction from what we do, the first opening of the season when the fair opens and people come along to enjoy themselves is a pleasure, I want them to have lasting memories of the good time they had on
their visit.
My Sons have taken over the day to day of running the Fair since John's untimely death in 2000, they move it from site to site, set out the ground and operate the rides. Its an arduous lifestyle, especially for the wives waiting for vans to be put in place, water to be plumbed in and generators to be switched when we arrive at a new site, bringing up a family in vintage
living vans is not an easy task, the girls all get involved towing trailers and helping their husbands on a day to day basis. On the positive side the lifestyle is never dull, we have companionship, camaraderie and independence, more excitement than the average soap opera and the satisfaction of knowing what fun we bring to families.
I Sometimes think the public don't really have any concept of how we function, I'm often asked what we do in the winter, do we go abroad and soak up the sun on some exotic beach for a few months?
Winters are spent in the workshops, maintaining and painting rides, stalls and transport, investing in new projects to keep the Fair exciting and interesting. The family have developed a wide range of skills from decorating rides, applying gold leaf, sign writing to maintaining old equipment, and undertaking major restoration projects. We all find the winter work very satisfying.