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treefrog wrote: ↑Wed Feb 22, 2023 6:31 pm What is the machine on the floor to the left of it, in front of the Bryans

It's a German machine called "Imperial":

Many thanks for the pictures
Perhaps at least the year of production can be determined via the label which can be found in the machine. I'll get better pics soon.

Hello everyone,

Does anyone have any information regarding the age and manufacturer of this large fortune-telling machine? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
Joerg

Hey. I don't think that your playfield is from an "Olympia" (Jentzsch & Meerz). The "Olympia" has a different playing field and also looks significantly different from the back. This is the "Olympia I" with 6 holes: Olympia_1930_Jentzsch_und_Meerz_01.png And here is the "Olympia II" with 5 holes ...

Looks good.
But why did you remove the reserve ball mechanics? This is very rare with such Clowns.
I'm sure it was added later, but somehow it's also part of the history.

Nevertheless a very nice machine.

Hello. I think the machine from the first post is not a Giese-Bajazzo. The mechanics are based on the same principle, but are implemented completely differently. What is safe to say is that the machine was made in the late 1920s/ early 1930s. -- and now some more or less useful information: :burp ...

3. My machine has the serial J354 stamped into it is anyone able to tell me approximately the year it was made? Could you post more pictures of your machine, including the inside? This would help to find the producer and production time of your Clown. Judging by the picture you posted earlier, I ...

Hey.

Here is a short video:


I made this video some time ago and it shows how the mechanism works.

Here are some images of the lever:

Hi. I have attached an A4-printable PDF with the original Clown/Bajazzo-lithography which was used since 1910 in different color saturations. (Added to downloadable zip file - Site Admin.) Bajazzo-pdf-small.jpg If you need to adjust the litho, this video might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v ...

Reinhard Hoffmann never sold his machines himself, not even in Germany. He always offered them through dealers such as Holzweißig or Ernst Berger. He may have offered the machines through a dealer in England or produced them for a British company. Besides the initials "RH" there is another feature ...