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Sadly, Arrgee, I expect most users of this site remember LSD.

I know a few hippy types who probably remember the other LSD too!

Four Wondermatics advertisements, which were published in the Amusement Caterers' Association year books, 1962 - 65.

In the March issue of Mechanical Memories Magazine, I published details of seven previously unknown Wonders allwins. These have come to light as a result of the discovery of four Wondermatics advertisements, which were published in the Amusement Caterers' Association year books, 1962 - 65. The seven...

I had hoped the March magazines would have been in the post yesterday, but there's a problem at the printers, so I'm now hoping I will be able to get them in the post Monday or Tuesday. In the meantime, I can confirm we will be back in Sarratt for the spring bash on 27th April. Entry forms will be i...

I suspect this is a standard Mills Hi-top which has had a light bulb added at some time. As far as I am aware, Mills didn't produce electro-mechanical Hi-Tops, and I have a pound note that says the machine is totally mechanical.

Isn't it strange the vendor hasn't included pictures of the mech?

Carters book lists a 'Scientific Electric Palmist' under Charles Ahrens, and dates it 1922. I guess this is probably the machine to which it refers. I operate a similar machine at Brighton, and know of three others. I'm sure there are more - but still a fairly rare machine.

OK, so the Town Broker is not a future pay machine, but this still doesn't answer the intriguing 'predetermined payout' claim on the original flyer. The outcome from a disc spinning freely (or three reels) is purely random, and an average percentage is purely statistical - theoretically based on an ...

Er, sorry! I appear to have been talking balls again. To be honest, I've never owned or even played an Essex machine - I just recall hearing at some time in the past that they work in the same way as the Stockbroker machines. Clearly I was misinformed.

Jerry

I'm having an early night tonight

What you have there is a 'Clock' manufactured by Bryans Automatic Works, Kegworth, Derbyshire. The original 6 Win version was first produced in 1930. On insertion of a penny, the player turns the key on the right whereby the hands wizz round just as they would on a real clock (but a lot faster). The...

gingerprince, I'm guessing that the reason you are unable to upload images is because you are not a registered user. Although visitors are allowed to post in the open forum, I think you have to be registered to upload images. Perhaps Site Admin. could confirm?

Jerry

Yes, a most interesting machine. Not least because unlike the Essex machines and Bradshaw Little Stockbroker, Town Broker is a true roulette machine because the disc spins freely, as opposed to 'bouncing about' to the next predetermined position. I shall be publishing John's full story in the April ...

Actually, the drum thingy is a score indicator. I had originally thought it unlikely to be a score keeping device as there is no reset solenoid or any other apparent reset mechanism, but a score indicator it most definitely is (it counts up in 3000s) All will be revealed in the March issue of the ma...

Malcymal, don't confuse 'Bell Fruit Gum' with the British manufacturer 'Bell Fruit'. Although we commonly refer to these machines as 'one armed bandits', Americans generally refer to them as 'Bell' machines, after the first three reeler which was patriotically named 'Liberty Bell'. The 'Fruit Gum' b...

I heard from Barry a couple of days ago, and he has confirmed that the plastic backflash on his machine does indeed cover the original aluminium back.
I shall be reporting on Barry's project again in the next issue of the magazine, and will be following it's progress in the coming months.

Here's the picture of a wonderful collection of cast iron mutoscopes from a private collection, that I published in issue 20 (better late than never), which includes:
2 x American Clamshell, American Indian Head and British Octagonal.

Many thanks to Pennymachines and Coin-op (who emailed me some info. a few days ago). It's great to see what the Imo-Looping actually looks like, although the picture posted by Pennymachines is different to Barry's project. I wonder whether Barry's is a later version, or if it has been 'modernised' a...

Here's a picture I published in the November issue, of a wonderful collection of cast iron machines, including a BAC/Simplex stamper. I reported in the magazine that the location is Broadstairs, Kent. However, I have since learnt that it was actually Ramsgate (a few miles down the road)!

I thought it was about time I updated this thread! I revealed in the November issue that it appears the BAC stampers were produced by Simplex Manufacturing Co. It is thought that a small number of Simplex machines have survived, although I have been unable to confirm the whereabouts of any survivors...

Glad you enjoyed the articles, sorry it's taken so long to reply - I've had a stinking cold this week, must be the time of the year. Anyway, your wooden 'scope was definately not manufactured by Bio-Automatics in 1905. Bio-Automatics was incorporated in January 1908, and was one of four companies se...