Novelty Merchantman Crane

[daveslot]

Got this tinplate one.

[gameswat]

So is that flag out of a crane Dave, or do you just happen to have one that size?

[daveslot]

I have no idea where it came from. But I've cleared lots of arcades in the past and it was amongst that lot.

[pennymachines]

That looks a lot like this American Flag 48 Stars antique hat pin. Maybe that's what they used?

[gameswat]

The size is perfect for Dave's tin flag and looks very close to the advert, and since he found it at an arcade I'll bet money it's the one!

I couldn't thread a pin down mine, so if there's a hole, it must be very narrow.

PM, could the old wire be broken off in your mast and that's why the hole seems tiny?

[pennymachines]

It's difficult to examine without disassembly, but I poked a thin wire down to the depth of almost 1/2". How do you think this would have held the flag, as it obviously doesn't rest on top of the mast?

[gameswat]

I just measured the depth of the hole and exactly 1/2" deep. So the flag should stick up close to 1" looking at Dave's tape measure. That seems perfectly sized to me. I imagine if it's not a tight fit then a dob of glue would have kept it in place and from falling out when laid on it's back for moving. Though they always seem to be missing so maybe they were just a push fit?

[pennymachines]

Oh, I get it - so the flag adds another inch or so to the height of the mast.

[gameswat]

PM, I meant 1" to the bottom of the flag, so the whole thing will add close to 2.5" above the mast on my game, more than enough room to accommodate that.

[pennymachines]

Yep