This was the best ride at the Numurkah show back in the 80's. It's a shame the octopus no longer appears at shows anymore.. Maybe the younger generation these days would find it boring compared to the modern rides? I can still say the Zipper and Gravitron were fun but not after eating a dippy dog...
Worked on one of these machines for Anthony Harris of Pat Collins for seven seasons, heavy machine to build up , pull down. Perhaps the owner of this ride might invest in some speakers, turntables and amplifiers looks and sounds a lot better with music.
Worked with travelling funfairs casual and full-time for over 15 years in the late 60s and 70s that’s when travelling funfairs were proper not these rubbishy travelling theme parks that’s all is these days the music they play the stuff they have all down to theme parks, definitely not the same American theme, parks rubbish
Rode this Octopus ride many times as a kid back in the early 1960’s when Benson’s fair came to South Park near Reigate. They arrived with Scammel Pioneers pulling trailers containing the dodgems, switchback/Noah’s Ark, whip and this octopus. Benson’s fair still comes to Horsham, still a great fair.
Love these rides, Carters had the Octopus and the Skid, they may have taken those Reverchon "Jubilee" dodgems as well, they look brand new in this footage. Carters have just replaced their Reverchon set with some restored 60s Supercar dodgems which look stunning.
Another classic from our fairground heritage that needs a good knowledgeable owner.. Especially one who can make it turn in the Clockwise direction, the way all UK rides were intended to rotate.. NOT anticlockwise..
A true classic, I remember George Scarrott had one he bought in the early 1970s, he has it still now. I remember Scarrotts fairs as a child in the 1980s in Wootton Bassett, nice to see the original controls to including the memette fusebox made by MEM, Midland electrical manufacturing. George Scarrott also has a few classic trucks to.
That famous artwork is what got me hooked on the travelling fairs. just the sight of wallis's maroon 8 leggers thundering up the a41 towards my local grounds (EASTHAM WIRRAL) got me going crazy ha, I remember those days well I'd be at the fair from 9AM to 9PM every day the bollockings i got off my old man were well worth it, its FAIR to say I got my monies worth out of that funfair. Thanks for the movie its really appreciated.
Can the Octopus operate in both directions and can the concentric cam go in both directions, i seem to remember seeing the ride stationary with the concentric cam sending the arms up and down? Great machine & video.
You can't beat a ride on the Octopus ride. What I wouldn't do to re-live my childhood fun on the Octopus. Unfortunately this ride is very seldom seen on our show circuit or anywhere else much in Australia. If you want to have some good old fashioned fun and laughter and a bit of a scare, bring back the old rides especially the Octopus. Yeah there are some who say that the old rides are tame, but there are some like the UFO ride, Moon Ride, The Tip Top, The Turbo, and I could go on. These old rides will soon put your heart in your mouth. Especially the old moon ride, which I think was a bit dangerous as you sat inside the moon itself and the galaxy was all around you. It would spin slow and then peak at approximately 40kph and also it went backwards. The seats really had no safety belts only a handlebar which was placed across your lap. The whole ride relied on centrifugal force inside. It was fun. Sadly rides like these have either gotta make money for the owners or they get scrapped until someone finds them and brings them back to life. But the Octopus, comes along Australia, we need this ride back on the show circuits. I am still a number one Octopus rider fan forever. 🐙🐙🐙🐙😂😅😊😉😁😎😎😎
Tommy green is my great uncle through my grandad. I have worked on the gaff since I was five everytime the fair rolled into town. I have been alover on the road from the age of 15. I have to say I love it. It's a brilliant life. Just too bad I was not born into the showmans guild of great Britain.
There's some graft in building up that skid isn't there? Never built one of those up in all my time on the grounds, but blimey, that's a working job! Thanks for the videos, some great footage there for sure!
Personally I've never seen any fun in the SKID ride and your rite about the graft involved! I'd much prefer a good WALTZER much less work and much more fun!😉👍
@Stuart Mullen bet you've had a good life! I've loved the fair ever since I first clapped eyes on wallis's rounding boards poking over the hedges at our local grounds on the A41! Seeing the speedway nxt to the waltzer was amazing at 8 years old! It still has the same affect on me now! Ah the smell and noise, oh to be 8 again! Take care buddy 👍
