The World's Fair, January 18th 1958
This was one of three Noddy-themed rides released by Edwin Hall & Co. after he gained exclusive rights to manufacture amusement machines featuring Enid Blyton's lovable character in 1957. The first of these was apparently sited at Gamages department store in London in December of that year.
The wooden fairground-style swingboat had room for two riders with a cut-out Noddy figure standing between them.
Humber Pastimes, Cleethorpes, September 2021. The paintwork shown here is relatively true to the original, although the originally red outlines have been repainted in blue. The music heard is a more recent addition from a Stamar timer, although Edwin Hall did originally offer the option of music via a record player in the base.
This was quite a popular ride at the time of its production, and frequently turns up in old photographs and postcards. Alas, I only know of two Noddy Rock-a-Boats that survived into my 1990s childhood. One at Humber Pastimes in Cleethorpes (as seen in the video above), the other at Jackson's Amusements in Mablethorpe. The Mablethorpe Rock-a-Boat was sold on eBay in the late 2000s. I have no idea if it has survived to this day.
I wasn't sure whether to include this under the same post or not but, as I am currently unsure of its origins, it may as well go here for the timebeing...
This was quite a popular ride at the time of its production, and frequently turns up in old photographs and postcards. Alas, I only know of two Noddy Rock-a-Boats that survived into my 1990s childhood. One at Humber Pastimes in Cleethorpes (as seen in the video above), the other at Jackson's Amusements in Mablethorpe. The Mablethorpe Rock-a-Boat was sold on eBay in the late 2000s. I have no idea if it has survived to this day.
I wasn't sure whether to include this under the same post or not but, as I am currently unsure of its origins, it may as well go here for the timebeing...
Humber Pastimes, Cleethorpes, September 2021
Another This ride was also at Humber Pastimes when I was a child. It looks exactly like the Noddy Rock-a-Boat, but has a wooden cut-out of Mickey Mouse on top of the swingboat in Noddy's place. I have no idea if Noddy got broken at some point along the line and was replaced by a clever carpenter during restoration, or if Edwin Hall custom made this ride for someone. I have never seen another like it either in real life or in old photos.
I have found a review of Humber Pastimes from 1960 which doesn't mention the Mickey Mouse Rock-a-Boat. However, it does meantion a "Flowerpot Men ride". Several people who lived in the area at the time say they remember this ride being a Rock-a-Boat with Bill and Ben on either side of it. Possibly this was in fact the Flower Pot Men ride, but Billy and Ben were replaced by Mickey at some point?
If anyone has a photo of the Flowerpot Men ride, I would love to hear from you!
Another This ride was also at Humber Pastimes when I was a child. It looks exactly like the Noddy Rock-a-Boat, but has a wooden cut-out of Mickey Mouse on top of the swingboat in Noddy's place. I have no idea if Noddy got broken at some point along the line and was replaced by a clever carpenter during restoration, or if Edwin Hall custom made this ride for someone. I have never seen another like it either in real life or in old photos.
I have found a review of Humber Pastimes from 1960 which doesn't mention the Mickey Mouse Rock-a-Boat. However, it does meantion a "Flowerpot Men ride". Several people who lived in the area at the time say they remember this ride being a Rock-a-Boat with Bill and Ben on either side of it. Possibly this was in fact the Flower Pot Men ride, but Billy and Ben were replaced by Mickey at some point?
If anyone has a photo of the Flowerpot Men ride, I would love to hear from you!
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