Mini Ferrari being completed in the Superjoy Workshop - The Coin Slot, August 3rd 1968
Superjoy Amusements were a Blackpool-based amusement machine manufacturer, founded in the 1960s. The managing director, Mr H E Cockerill, was better known for his company Northern Neon Lights Blackpool Ltd., who provided signwork to the likes of Blackpool Tower and the Pleasure Beach from the late 1950s onwards.
Superjoy's involvement with kiddie rides seems to have begun in 1966 when a friend asked Mr Cockerill to make an animal ride. According to an article in The Coin Slot, hundreds of these rides were produced, but it doesn't name the ride in question! Superjoy had a close working relationship with another Blackpool company, Copa Coin-o-Matics, so I wonder if they may be referring to Copa's Loppy Lugs (dog) and Mini Mouse rides. The rides were made mainly from fibreglass - the fibreglass work was done by Modern Products and T Wilkinson of Trevoni Auto Marine Plastics, before the toys were sent to Superjoy to be built into kiddie rides.
In 1968, Mr Cockerill and K Sellars of Copa Coin-o-Matic set up Copa Enterprises SA in Malaga, to build and distribute Loppy Lugs, Mini Mouse and Mini Ferrari in Spain. At this time, Spain wouldn't allow imports of full amusement rides but the parts could be sent over to be assembled there.
To the best of my knowledge, the first ride designed and made completely by Superjoy was the Super Tank Mark II - sixteen of these were sold. The smaller Super Tank Mark III quickly outsold it though, with twenty four having been manufactured by August 1968.
Cockerill and his fifteen employees could make one large tank or two small tanks per week alongside their sign work. They also made steel furniture, bingo units and swivel chairs.
Their workshop was located in the old canteen of a brick works which had closed down and was being let out as units. However, this was considered cramped by summer 1968, and Superjoy were looking to extend. I'm not sure if this ever happened.
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