Postcard Communications
by David Moreland
In the age before mobile phone technology, the travelling
fairground communities relied on other means to maintain communications.
Up until the late 1970s the newspaper 'World's Fair' had a main function
as a communicating vessel - relaying news not just of fairs, but of social
events and important gossip. Alongside this was the tried and tested means
of postcard and letter communication. The golden age of postcard communications
was in the period around the First World War, with many showmen commissioning
photographers to prepare postcard images featuring the latest fairground
innovations - the Switchbacks, Shows and Scenics of the time.
The following postcards are from the David Braithwaite
collection, primarily featuring his acquisitions from the Orton and Spooner
collection. The front image is shown alongside the message written on
the reverse. An attempted transcript shows the immediacy of the pictures
- with the message of the postcard often relating to the new machine featured
on the front of the postcard. This immediacy was a short-lived phase,
though the current digital environment, with applications such as YouTube,
MySpace and Flickr, has seen a recent return to similar patterns and social
tastes. Newness and novelty, whether an event or an object, is now transmitted
and shared instantaneously in the digital environment.
David Moreland, who has put together this article, worked
in the National Fairground Archive for one week in January 2007. Amongst
other archival tasks, David also prepared the exhibition for Leeds Valentines
Fair 2007, featuring vintage views of Woodhouse Fair.
Postcard of the Allonby incident.
Reverse of the postcard of the Allonby incident.
This card is addressed to Mr G(eorge) Orton who at the
time was trading under his own name as a van builder. It is from showman
J. Caris and is an on the spot view of the engine accident at Allonby.
It is written as follows: "This is the photo of the engine in the beck
at Allonby near Maryport. Hope you are all keeping well."
Postcard of Relph and Pedley's Motors.
Reverse of postcard of Relph and Pedley's Motors.
This postcard is addressed to Mr James (Jim) Rose at
Northampton. It states that "this is the new machine" and it
is signed by Bill and Annie. Relph and Pedley were based in Northampton,
and travelled the North West and North of England. The postcard is signed
from Macclesfield and is postmarked Widnes, with a date of 1912 (possibly
April). The machine was converted from a Switchback for the 1912 season,
and the image above is probably a first-time build up.
Postcard of Tyler's Show.
Reverse of postcard of Tyler's Show.
This postcard from 1907 is addressed to Orton and Sons
Carriage Works, the sender being showman Mr A(lbert) Tyler. This features
a bioscope show presented in partnership with Enoch Farrar, built by Orton
and Spooner. The image is said to be taken at Bingley (Yorkshire) in 1909,
but the postmark predates this, however the posting venue is clearly Bingley.
It is written as follows: "Accept your promise to receive(?) waggon
this week, otherwise had determined(?) to refuse it as have option of
one on ground here ready to hand. Leave here tomorrow for Cleckheaton.
Don't disappoint."
Postcard of Thurston's Show at King's Lynn.
Reverse of postcard of Thurston's Show.
This postcard has a photographer's caption on the front,
placing the image at King's Lynn in 1910. It shows Thurston's Bioscope
Show in full glory. It is addressed to Mr W(illiam) Ball, another Bisocope
pioneer. William's son Alf Ball presented various Bioscope shows but was
seemingly beset by accidents and bad luck - his own show was burnt to
the ground later in 1910 following a lightning strike at Tilbury Docks
(shortly after receiving this postcard). The postcard is written by A.
Lawrence c/o Asplands at King's Lynn. The postmark and the caption on
the front are similar, showing that the postcard was prepared on the ground
in quick fashion.
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