Carters Steam Fair
Carters Steam Fair is a travelling vintage fair. Founded in 1977 by John Carter, this family business is now managed by the second generation of Carters.
Carters operate and maintain a large collection of vintage rides and sidestalls, ranging in date from the 1870s to the 1960s, and every season they are travelled with vintage heavy lorries and traditional showmen's living wagons. The fair provides an opportunity to enjoy historic equipment and artwork.
Their operating base and restoration workshops are immediately adjacent to White Waltham Airfield, near Maidenhead, in Berkshire.
Rides and attractions
Carters Steam Fair is a travelling collection of rare working funfair rides, As at April 2016, currently touring rides with the Fair are:| Ride | Height Restriction |
| Austin Cars | Suitable for pre-school children up to the age of about 6 or 7 only |
| Train Ride | There are no height restrictions, so adults may travel with younger children, if required |
| Toytown | Suitable for toddlers and pre-school children up to the age of 5 or 6 |
| Mini Octopus | Suitable for toddlers and pre-school children up to the age of 5 or 6 |
| Scenic Dobbies | Suitable for toddlers and pre-school children up to the age of 5 or 6 |
| Big Swingboats | Must be over 1.1 metres tall to ride |
| Little Swingboats | No |
| Jubilee Steam Gallopers | No |
| Jungle Thriller Ark | No |
| Chair-o-Plane | Must be over 1.1 metres tall to ride |
| Steam Yachts | Must be over 1.05 metres tall to ride middle yellow seats, all other seats may be ridden by anyone over 1.2 metres |
| Dive-Bomber | Must be over 1.1 metres tall only when accompanied by an adult, or those over 1.3 meters unaccompanied |
| Giant Octopus | Must be over 1.1 metres tall to ride |
| Dodgems | Must be over 1.1 metres tall to ride |
| Autodrome | No |
Switch from cash to tokens
In 2014, Carters Steam Fair moved from taking cash payments at each attraction to a token coin system. As at April 2016, there have been two distinct minting productions featuring different designs. Both designs feature the representation of a Galloper ride horse on the reverse, along with the texts "Carters Steam Fair", "No cash value", and "No refund value" around the image on the coin's edge. Additionally, the text "1 Token" appears across the horse's neck horizontally in a rectangular box. All text is presented in block letters.2014 Token Obverse
The obverse of the 2014 coin token features a representation of the comedian Harry Hill, wearing a paper Christmas cracker hat. Originally Hill was going to design an image himself for this first minting, but in the event he was also about to put on a stage show and was too busy to fit it in and so with his blessing, Carters put his portrait on the coin instead.2015 Token Obverse
The obverse of the 2014 coin token features a representation of the late John Carter, who in 1977, along with his wife Anna, purchased the Steam Gallopers, and thus started what was to become Carters Steam Fair.In popular culture
Models
A number of die-cast models featuring the name of and / or reproducing vehicles used by Carters Steam Fair have been produced;- Corgi Toys released a limited edition Morris 1000 in 1995 as part of their Corgi Classics range, named "Advanced Publicity Van Set: Carters Steam Fair", in 1:43 scale. 14,300 were produced and distributed worldwide. This model came with a ‘Seafood Stall Kit’.
- Oxford Diecast released a Morris J San Remo Ice Cream Van during 2014, registration "WLD 759", based on the Carters full-size vehicle, and in 1:76 scale.
Television
- Antiques Roadshow, Series 29, Episode 2
- Fairground Attractions
- Midsomer Murders
- Great British Railway Journeys, Series 7, Episode 20
Film
- Hugo
- The Krays
- 28 Days Later
- The End of the Affair
- 28 Weeks Later
- The Theory of Everything
- Paddington 2
Music