Auction to open for classic Carters Steam Fair items

Memorabilia and fairground equipment from Carters Steam Fair going under the hammer this weekend – including some items for sale for the very first time.

游乐场老板Joby卡特公司最终以rations for an open day and auction at the headquarters of the classic fair in White Waltham.

On Saturday, July 8, visitors can access the main fairground storage yards where restoration takes place for the fairground rides and vintage vehicles that Carters Steam Fair is famous for.

There will be an opportunity to buy the remaining items of fairground merchandise which were left over from their final tour in 2022 – as well as location posters and banners used to advertise.

For the first and only time, Carters Steam Fair branded uniform will be available to purchase.

With free entry all weekend, it is an opportunity for anyone to buy a piece of local or fairground history.

The open day is also a chance to preview the wide range of lots available in the auction the following day.

There are 347 lots available, all Carters Steam Fair or signwriting related, including fairground art, vintage signs, old dodgem cars, galloper horses, generators, rare vintage vehicles including two Scammell lorries, various spare parts and other fairground related equipment and spare parts.

Among the items is a 1944 Scammell lorry which belongs to fairground owner Joby Carter’s mum, Anna Carter – which was used to pull her vintage living wagon.

There’s also an ERF lorry which was used to pull our staff accommodation known as the ‘kip truck’ and a fully restored 1966 County tractor which the fair used to help manoeuvre the rides and attractions on location.

They also have some older advertising material from the fair, posters and banners, plus selling the remainder of our fairground merchandise including mugs, magnets and posters.

The full auction catalogue is available to download or view online on the Carters Steam Fair website atwww.carterssteamfair.co.uk

The auction takes place at 10am on Sunday, July 9, with doors opening at 8am.

Anyone wishing to bid at the auction must be registered as a buyer. This can be done online by 4pm on Saturday, July 8 or in person before 9am on Sunday, July 9.

Fairground owner Joby Carter said:

“This is a very exciting opportunity for people to come and see our headquarters on the open day and see what we have been up to since we finished our final tour, including the restoration work we have been continuing.

“Even though the fair has not been on the road, we have been finishing various vintage lorries and wagons which people will be able to see when they visit.

“It's nice to sell this stuff to people that will use it and cherish it.

“I always say that we are only mere custodians of this stuff and now it’s time to pass these cherished items to new people. Every single item has a story to tell as to why it’s on this planet.”

The main collection of rides and attractions belonging to Carters Steam Fair will not be in this auction and will remain in storage to ensure that the rides and vintage vehicles are in optimum condition, but this is not a long-term solution.

Joby is still looking for the right buyers to step forward to secure the future of the fair as a collection.

Typically, vintage fairground rides are bought when they are in need of restoration and vintage rides are rarely sold as a collection.

This is the first time an immaculate vintage funfair has ever been sold ready to operate.

The collection includes 12 vintage fairground rides and a selection of side stall games which date from the 1890s to the 1960s. They have all been faithfully restored using traditional techniques and are in pristine condition.

With the Carter’s blessing, Gary Rivers, a loyal fan of the fair, has set up a campaign to help save the fair which includes a petition to help keep this rare collection of vintage rides together:

www.change.org/p/project-carters-steam-fair-a-unique-piece-of-cultural-history?or search ‘Carters Steam Fair’ on change.org

If the Carters team cannot find the right home for the fair as a whole collection, they will be faced with no other option than to hold a second auction and sell the rides off individually, something they have always been so keen to avoid.