R. J. Lakin and Co
of 67 Besley Street, Streatham (south London).
Yard formerly occupied by showman’s decorator Arthur Oram.
Early 1920s: Oram went into partnership with Robert James Lakin, who, at the time, was working for Orton, Sons and Spooner demonstrating the construction and operation of fairground rides to their new owners.
Over the next few years Lakin poached staff from his old employers and eventually bought out Oram in 1926
1926 Business re-formed as R.J. Lakin & Co. At first the new company built simple children’s roundabouts, as well as producing side-stalls, or hooplas, some fitted with elaborately carved spinners in the centre.
Lakin soon started making larger rides in direct opposition to Orton & Spooner. The first of these big hitters was probably Thomas Miller’s Scenic Whales, a machine rebuilt as an Ark in 1933 which was travelled for many years by the Briggs family.
c.1930 A number of British firms, including Orton and Spooner, Robert Lakin, Lang Wheels and Rytecraft, had introduced Dodgem rides which made them more acceptable to British fairgrounds.
1930s The firm made Skids and Swirls, Mont Blancs as well as a Loch Ness Monster ride, delivered in 1936. Many Arks were built, a design that evolved into the Ben Hur machines.
1933 Their first Waltzer went to Charles Thurston
1937 The last great innovation before WWII was the Moonrocket
1938 Their final Waltzer went to W. H. Marshall and Sons. An Ark was delivered to Enoch Farrar, a bike-themed machine.
WWII the company made cable drums for military purposes.
Post-WWII Ride production resumed at a reduced capacity, especially Waltzers in conjunction with Maxwells in Scotland, which built entirely at the Maxwell factory from 1948.
1949 A final development by Lakins was the Silver Rodeo Ark, one for Corrigan’s but sold to Culine Brothers in 1951 and travelled by them virtually unaltered well into the 1970s. Another went to Felecey’s at the Wonderland in Cleethorpes and, although converted to a Waltzer, it remained in otherwise almost original condition for many years.
1952 Robert Lakin closed the roundabout manufacturing side of his business. He offered the first floor paint shop to Edwin Hall, who continued working as a showman’s decorator for a short period, before branching into the more lucrative business of manufacturing coin-operated children’s rides and roundabouts.
Also see Robert Lakin page on the Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre website for an overview of the development of fairground rides.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] History of Fairground rides