THE PARAMOUNT CHAIR-O-PLANE

John and Anna Carter bought the Chair-o-Plane in 1978. Until that point, they had been travelling the Gallopers on its own, and the money they were earning wasn't quite enough to feed a growing family and two large hungry dogs.

It was decided that the family should get another ride and operate them together. The Chair-o-Plane's background is patchy – it's thought that it was built in Germany and imported to Britain in the 1920s with blank canvas, ready to be painted by British showmen. It's generally the case that British roundabouts run clockwise, whereas their Continental and American counterparts run anti-clockwise. The Chair-o-Plane certainly runs the right direction to be a British-built ride, but it may have been adapted by an early owner.

When the Carters first obtained the Chair-o-Plane it needed a good deal of restoration and, as by now they were well used to periods of intensive restoration followed by periods of no cash, they took it on whole-heartedly. "The bank tried to save us from ourselves," Anna Carter says, "and refused to lend us any more money." So they were forced to take the Gallopers out for another season on its own to raise the funds to restore the Chair-o-Plane, which finally joined them on the road for the 1980 season.

These days, there are very few Chair-o-Planes still in operation, as they can't compete with modern 'white knuckle' rides. The Chair-o-Plane is a hugely popular ride, and it features a beautiful Chiappa organ originally constructed for a juvenile ride in 1958 (although the carved front is much older and is believed to be by Limonaire), extensive scenic painting by Anna Carter, and chains which were reputedly once deck chains on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

This machine is the only known example still in its original trailer-mounted form, which makes it easier to travel.

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