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What a state these got into after years of rough service. The deep scoring of the swept area, plus the broken-off legs of the glass ballerina, circling forlornly like something from an antique land.
The memories!

These were EVERYWHERE.
Surely someone still has one?

Definitely a decimal update, this one.
I remember it well. The white car (occasionally) paid 1/-.

That looks to be a Mills Poinsettia, but with a double jackpot conversion.
Pace, perhaps?

Good question.
I saw it online...

I don't know a lot about it.
I get it confused with the famous 'timewarp' arcade at Mablethorpe. I've not seen photos of either, although there is film of the interior of the Margate one.

That sounds like the famous (and fast becoming fabulous) 'Arcade at Margate', well known in these circles.

Catching the coins being chucked down the glass was a big part of the fun in playing the large version. Watching people scrabbling to catch the coins always reminded me of seagulls squabbling over a spilled bag of chips; an undignified display of greed. I never imagined a single-player Wheel-'em-In...

The famous Mills fruit symbols were 20 to the reel even before 20-stop mechs were even thought of. Mills opened-out the reel window so as to expose three symbols on each reel, rather than just the ones on the payout line. It gave extra excitement, because it produced the 'just-one-off' factor. It wa...

It's in the same vein as Crompton's Derby, or the various Whittaker-style Roulettes. It would be great to have a list of what actually survives, and in what condition. That way, things would have a better chance of survival when storage becomes unavailable. To start such a list, I have a (Pugh's) 2-...

The THEO Multiple isn't the coin-op pump shown. Two different pumps are described, the BMR being the coin-op one.

The THEO Multiple is something of an icon: It's the 'old pump' that looks like a lighthouse!

20-stop numbers on a 10-stop mech.
I'm guessing it's on a British coin?

A feast of my favourite electro-mechanical gems.
Jamieson's Automatics are well represented. One of mine (Top Dog, I think) has the Kraft label still present.
I didn't know these were available in 4-player form. Something else to look for!

Matches are dangerous; they can catch fire.
They should sell them without the red bit on the end; same as they've done with sweet cigarettes.
Much safer all round.

It's certainly got blanked-off holes, but the extra symbols look to be oranges, not lemons, which is odd.
I'd clear away all those 'stuck-over' symbols, and see what's beneath.

Are there still Melons on the reels?
As far as I remember, the Melons drop the jackpot, same as the Bars.
Look for extra Lemons, if the Melons are missing.
Then it's just a matter of un-blanking the holes in the payout discs.

Selling things on here is a lot more informal, but doesn't quite reach as many possible customers.
(Although the QUALITY is better!)

The background scene really sets the whole thing off. I mostly remember seeing them with a faded backboard, or just painted or wallpapered over. Mine has 1" mirror tiles, which I've seen before on British-operated examples. It gives a good impression of 'more swag', so I'm leaving it alone. My ...

The disc APPEARS to spin further than it actually does, when it's set up correctly. In reality, it moves only a few spaces. (Can't remember how many).
You need to be thinking VERY clearly to set these up.
Are they both Stockbrokers? I'd love a 'CRICKETERS' conversion.

I only know motor auctions, but we generally set the first bid from the floor. The auctioneer asks "What have we got", and someone signals a derisory amount (two or three hundred quid, on a book price of a grand). It leads to quick-fire bidding, and, if it stalls AFTER the reserve is reach...