Tucker, George

Epithet: Sec Greenwich Conservative Association

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000621.0x00001e

Little is known of George Tucker other than the fact that all of his photographs were developed by gaslight. He corresponded with other fairground enthusiasts of this generation, including Philip Bridle and Rowland Scott, but his main legacy is of course his photographic collection. The images relate mainly to fairs and showfamilies in South and South East of the country and consist of general fairground shots and detailed photographs of fairground transport.

However, the uniqueness of this photographic material lies not in the sharpness and quality of the image, which is of the highest quality, but the wealth of descriptive detail that is pencilled on the back of the photograph. One example of the thoroughness and meticulous cataloguing is the following information taken from the back of one of his photographs:

'Bertramm Mills Circus, At Southsea Common, 30-6-57. Trailer No 76, by Caranes (Dereham) Ltd, about 1932, on 27'x 6' tyres, 3/4 F.NTwo Thus 75 and 76 for stable equipment and tents. Has extra board on top of side stanchions.'

Another photograph includes the information that the photograph was taken by G A Tucker on the 4th of August 1952 (the majority of the photographs date back to the 1950s and early 1960s). As well as including details of the location and date of the fair, Mr Tucker then records in detail the type of trailer he had photographed and finished with a description under:

'Colours: - Rd with biscuit yellow underboxes. In June 1954 repainted different style, biscuit body with brown border, lettered amusements in blue.'

From the guide to the George Tucker Collection, 1930s-1950s, (National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield Library.)