Noah's Ark

 Whittaker Brothers have actually made three different Noah's Ark rides over the years, but I decided to put them all under one page to simplify things.

The first version was an open-top boat released in the 1980s.  As well as having a steering wheel in front of the rider, there was a small observation window, through which could be seen a small owl.  When a push button next to the window was pressed, the owl's eyes lit up and it made a hooting sound.  The ride played "We're All Going to the Zoo Tomorrow" when in motion.


Version One - 1980s Whittaker Brothers Flyer

This version measured 63" x 26" x 50" and weighed 297lbs.

The second version was released in the early 1990s.  This ark was enclosed and absolutely covered with animals!  There was a hippo on the front, holding a "Noah's Ark" sign, a giraffe sticking his neck out of the back, and a squirrel on the top to name but a few.


Version Two - 1990s Whittaker Brothers Leaflet

This one included several push buttons for animal sounds.  I don't remember what tune it played when the ride was in motion.  It measured 53" x 26" x 57".


Version Two - Walton-on-the-Naze Pier, August 1996

The third and final version made its debut in 1997 and looked very similar to V2.  However, there were now cut-out doors in both sides of the ark (which meant less animals!), the hippo had been replaced by a kangaroo, the giraffe by a panda, and the squirrel by a blue bird.


Version Three - 1990s Whittaker Brothers Leaflet

This version had four push buttons for animal sound effects, and played "The Animals Came In Two By Two" when in motion.


Version Three - 1990s Whittaker Brothers Leaflet

It measured 57" x 27" x 67" and weighed 230lbs.


Version Three - Bells Amusements, Ingoldmells, August 2023

Puffin' Billy

 A complete reinvention of Santa Fe Sam, Whittaker Brothers released Puffin' Billy in the late 1990s.  Advertising material showed him in white and yellow, wearing a blue cowboy hat covered with stars, although some releases seem to have been decorated with tie dye patches as were common with Whittaker rides at the turn of the 21st century.


2002 Whittaker Brothers Leaflet

Measurements on a 2002 leaflet are given as 59" x 29" x 67", and the ride weighed 242lbs.


Palace Amusements, Rhyl, May 2017

Sesame Street Oscar the Grouch

 Designed by Copy Right Rides, the Oscar the Grouch Trash Can was the third model in their series of Sesame Street kiddie rides.  The ride was originally manufactured by Amutec of Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire.  Manufacture continued under Fun2Learn after the company was founded and the ride remained popular for many years.


Folly Farm Adventure Park, Kilgetty, June 2019

Brum

 Manufactured by Amutec of Mablethorpe, the original Brum ride was released in 1998.  Larger than the second version, possibly the easiest way to tell them apart at first glance is that this version has moving eyes, although the feature has usually stopped working.


2000 Amutec Flyer

Cotswold Motoring Museum, December 2014

Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van

 Manufactured by RG Mitchell of Skegness, Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van was released as part of their "Premium Rides" range in 1997.  The blue and white van was a very popular ride at the time.  I specifically remember them being a common sight in Mothercare, as well as seaside amusement arcades.


Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van - 2000 RG Mitchell Catalogue

"The Story Teller", released a couple of years later, used the same van mould, but was now coloured in pink and purple with a different theme.  It never seemed to gain the same popularity as Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van and I only ever saw a small handful of them.


The Story Teller Van - 2000 RG Mitchell Catalogue

These were two seater kiddie rides with plenty of special features.  While one child sat in the driver's seat watching the "rolling road" screen display with two push buttons for ice cream van chimes and horn sound effects, there was space for another in a back seat alongside an interactive panel featuring a further four sound effect buttons allowing customers to choose their favourite ice cream flavours.


Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van - Ocean Boulevard Fun Park, Felixstowe, July 2021

The Story Teller had six pictures of popular children's nursery rhyme characters in place of this panel.  Each picture had a corresponding button which could be pressed to hear the nursery rhyme and see the character light up.

According to old RG Mitchell catalogues, the rides measured 54" x 30" x 50" and weighed 209lbs.  They cost £2,745.00 to purchase as of the 2001 price list.

Both were discontinued in 2002, making way for the upgraded versions, "Hank's Ice Cream Van" and "Hank's Storyteller Van".

American Roadster

The two-seater American Roadster was released by RG Mitchell as part of their Premium Rides range in 1997.  It was based on a Chevrolet Corvette and sold in a range of different colours, the most common being red.


1999 RG Mitchell Catalogue

When in motion, the ride played authentic-sounding radio sound effects and had a "rolling road" display screen on the dashboard.


Mr P's Classic Amusements, Bognor Regis, August 2020

Tots TV

 Manufactured by RG Mitchell of Skegness, the Tots TV ride was released in 1998.

2000 RG Mitchell Catalogue

According to old RG Mitchell catalogues, it measured 48" x 33" x 52" and weighed 286lbs.

Barry Island Pleasure Park, June 2019.  Unfortunately, the revolving dial on this unit wasn't working.

I believe the ride was discontinued around 2002.