Made by Derrick Walton, this is a film of traction engine and organ rallies, and fairs, at Boston, Masham (1969) Gisburn, Derby, Pickering and Harewood. The film begins with two girls holding hands walking to a fair with a boy.  A procession goes past with the Lord Mayor and a parade of different city maces.  There are various rides at the fair, including the ‘Paratrooper’, behind which stands a church spire.  The two girls, one in a red top the other in a blue top, go on some of the rides,...

Made by Derrick Walton, this is a film of traction engine and organ rallies, and fairs, at Boston, Masham (1969) Gisburn, Derby, Pickering and Harewood. The film begins with two girls holding hands walking to a fair with a boy.  A procession goes past with the Lord Mayor and a parade of different city maces.  There are various rides at the fair, including the ‘Paratrooper’, behind which stands a church spire.  The two girls, one in a red top the other in a blue top, go on some of the rides, including a carousel, filmed from on board.  Then the girls and others in the family eat ice creams and ice lollies.  They also visit ‘The Wierdest Wonders’, featuring supposedly strange looking people. The film switches to a traction engine rally, first showing a small model music box, followed by a traction engine driving towards a field of visitors, next to a factory.  The filmmaker then shows some vintage cars and more traction engines, including the Pendle Queen, belonging to Geo Hayton of Harrogate, and another from Long Preston.  The film shows the inside of an orchestral organ (Aolian Orchestrelle), housed in a white van, where a boy puts in a VHS tape. The film switches again to another large steam traction rally with a fair, and with a jammed packed car park.  People watch a large balloon going up.  The traction engines parade around the park, and visitors walk around the fair and look at the exhibits.  One woman looks unhappy with her candyfloss.  There is a Wurlitzer.  A truck arrives from Norman Dean of Castleford and unloads another Wurlitzer.  The music sheets are shown, including one for ‘We’ll Meet Again’.  One of the girls is seen on a ride.  A crowd gathers to look at one of the Wurlitzers.  A traction engine, of S J Wharton, is shown being polished up and driving off.  A parachutist descends as a light aircaft flies over. The film shows a close up of a Wurlitzer, followed by another being unveiled, the Golden Ruth.  The film finishes as it returns to the Aolian Orchestrelle organ.