Essex Flat Racer identified

[bryans fan]

At least someone agrees with me!

[pennymachines]

Hey Bryans Fan, you can pull your pants up now
We discussed this topic a few weeks ago and finally I got around to composing my rather lengthy analysis last night, but Gameswat seems to have saved me much of the effort. Anyway, here's what I have...

The first reason for supposing the game did not originate in the U.S. is that the wall machine format is almost uniquely European. I can't think of any comparable American machine. It's also clearly not French (in style or substance).

The B&W example, pictured above, was catalogued in a Sotheby's sale (Dec. 1976) as German. No manufacturer was cited and I'm sure it was just the vendor's guess. No example, to my knowledge, has been seen in Germany (Automatix shows pretty well all the known German games), but four have surfaced in England, all operating on our old penny. There are also more subjective aspects of the game's construction that point to a British manufacturer.

Credit to Coppinpr for spotting that the background is a horse racing scene and suggesting there might be such a version. His was right, as can be seen from both the Sotheby's example (above) and the Racing Investor (below) from John Carter's sale. I'm guessing, with its fancy metal front, it's the earliest. I had a quick look inside because, at the time, I was restoring a couple of these. If memory serves me right, the mechanism differed slightly; being weight, rather than spring driven.

The two I worked on were almost identical to the game found in America; one had the greyhounds but the other had a motorcycle theme. This provides a stronger clue as to country of origin, the die-cast bikes being made in Britain by Johillco.

As pointed out by Bryans Fan and Gameswat, the cabinet style (particularly the rounded edge mouldings) and construction are not dissimilar to those of the Essex Corn Exchange. I also concur with Gameswat's theory that the Dewey style coin cup is simply a copy. It's aluminium and, I suspect, an inferior casting (but I never owned a Dewey). Regardless, these appear on several '20s-'30s British machines. More persuasive is the instruction frame, which is interchangeable between the Corn Exchange and these racers. In fact, the motorcycle game used exactly the same fancy casting. However, the clincher (as Gameswat noted) is the fancy casting behind the turning handle. This can be seen on other Essex machines, but as far as I know, not on any other game, British or American.

Pay-out is predetermined and occurs on the play AFTER you win; in other words, it's a future pay machine.

I think that's what first made me wonder if it was related to the Stock Exchange machines. The Racing Investor name even chimes with those other investment themed games.
It's a curious coincidence that these racers were probably trained by the same master as the monkeys in John's parallel thread If not dogs, why not monkeys?, namely, Gordon Smith.

all Essex machines are pictured...

If only they were... I'm sure Watling's output is better documented than most British manufacturers, even of a later period (Bryans excluded). The Greyhound game listed in Braithwaite's book might be our game or another Essex floor-standing, two player racer...

I think we're agreeing on a post 1928 date (as proposed by Coppinpr). Johillco was taken over and renamed John Hill & Co in 1946, so the Motor Cycle Races was probably made between these dates.

They're rare, attractive and interesting (although I nearly tore my hair out reassembling and adjusting the mechanisms). The method of running the races is really very simple. The figures run neck and neck until the very end, when one steals a lead. This is achieved by means of a perforated disk which advances one notch per play. Rods linked to the figures run up against the disk and the one which penetrates provides the extra forward motion of the winner.

[roger]

How come Gameswat won braging rights.?????? Braithwaite book does not show this DOG RACE,,,,,,,,,,,,,Pennymachines list of British patents does not show an ESSEX DOG RACE.....All ESSEX machines do not have the look, style, age, or mechanism of this DOG RACE...........So, here's my entry for braging rights........DOG RACE was built by a German guy in his basement using an old WATLING coin cup,an ESSEX handle, toy FRENCH dogs, MONGOLIAN castings. plus parts from an old AUSTRALIAN flush toilet..

[roger]

you won't believe the parts used to make this slot.....see DISCOVERIES "DOG RACES"

[john t peterson]

Fascinating information, Mr. Pennymachines. Your pictorial evidence is quite compelling. I think the burden of proof has now switched to the other side of the pond. If anyone from the US believes this is NOT a British machine, let them bring forth their proof. That includes the Mongols. The Australians are already onboard.

Brillance is its own reward. All who offered up proof are hereby recognized and applauded! Your erudition is a wonder to us all.

J Peterson
Your Humble American Observer

[gameswat]

Australian Flush toilet?? Me thinks you jest. All we have down here is a hole in the ground covered in old corrugated iron - called a thunderbox!

[gameswat]

Pennymachines, wow, thanks for all the info! Really dig the motorcyle versions, I guess.... I could find space for one of those.....if you have too many....

[coppinpr]

Corrugated iron! Luxury! When I was a boy ...... and you tell the youngsters of today and they don't believe you!!

[13rebel]

roger wrote;.......plus parts from an old AUSTRALIAN flush toilet........................Australians don't have FLUSH toilets do they? (I thought I would say it before Mr.BP).

[bob]

What are flush toilets? Where can I find one?

What an ingenious mechanism for a racing machine, to provide an exciting suspenseful race with a definite result every time. I'm surprised that no patent has been found for this.

[bryans fan]

I have spent quite some time looking for a patent, but so far no joy. What great pictures of the mechanism by PM. Am I right in thinking that the winner is not random but a pre determined sequence? The disc that gives the winners by allowing the pins to go through the holes appears to rotate on a ratchet system and advances after each play.

[pennymachines]

Correct and because it's not very long, it wouldn't have been hard to spot the pattern. The machine takes a fixed percentage profit each cycle but a canny punter wouldn't play if, for example, the white was on the winning line when they approached the game.

[gameswat]

Ahh, Penny Machines - pre-determined payout hey, then my offer on the spare Motorcycle Exchange (that I'm sure your're using as a door stop to your garden shed) - just went down. In fact I was told the owner of this Greyhound example was asking $30,000! Good grief, don't think that will happen, even if it had been some lost US machine, I can't see anybody paying a fraction of that. And if you looked closely at the pics, the cabinet has been messed up by someone stripping it back using an orbital sanding wheel.

[pennymachines]

How come Gameswat won braging rights.?????? Braithwaite book does not show this DOG RACE,,,,,,,,,,,,,Pennymachines list of British patents does not show an ESSEX DOG RACE

If it was in the book, there wouldn't be much to brag about - save an ability to read and look things up. Most slot machines were not patented, so unless you can find an American patent for the game, that's also a moot point.

All ESSEX machines do not have the look, style, age, or mechanism of this DOG RACE

We're only suggesting that one of them does. I wouldn't claim we've definitively proved it, but I think we've put together a strong case on the available evidence. You may have reason to be unconvinced (apart from a vested interest in the market value of the game), but unless you offer coherent counter arguments, I'm putting my money on the Essex Greyhounds.

A Bit of a Flutter by Mark Clapson (History Today, Vol 41), describes the use of tote machines at horse races:

The machines varied from the hand-cranked variety to the more effective electrically operated types patented by inventors and companies. The machines issued tickets that were dispensed from the tote building. The first tote buildings were established at Newmarket and Carlisle in July 1929.

Tote betting was also operated off-course in tote clubs situated in towns, the odds and prices being relayed via "blower" from the racecourse to the tote office.

The little tote machines found in these clubs were made by companies such as the Essex Auto Manufacturing Company, who also made slot machines.

In light of this, doesn't it seem likely they would turn their hand to at least one gambling machine with a race betting theme?

Tote clubs were largely killed off by the 1934 Betting and Lotteries Act, which made them illegal, and facilitated working-class access to totes by legalising them at dog tracks.

Perhaps it is no coincidence then that 1934 also saw Essex Auto Co. go into liquidation: London Gazette, June '34. So if they made them, the racers can be no later than that.

[gameswat]

All ESSEX machines do not have the look, style, age, or mechanism of this DOG RACE

Roger it's easy to say the above, but then you make no claims to back that up. It seems your whole case is based on one piece of flimsy evidence - Exhibit A - the "coin cup". And then the fact that it doesn't appear in any lists as by Essex, which is not really proof of anything. At least we came at this with some sensible and thought out arguments. But it seems you didn't like that much. I'm guessing that you are in fact the owner of the Greyhound in question?!

[roger]

HATS OFF to all Posters on "Dog Race" for your valid arguments that this machine had its origin in the UK.....I did not mean to question your extensive knowledge of coin-ops , but really attempted to provoke a lively discussion on the subject------- it seems like I achieved my purpose, plus how about all that invaluable information that came out of the woodwork. ALL contributors deserve a word of THANKS. ........................As a new member of PENNY MACHINES , I have throughly enjoyed visiting this site. However, I am amazed that most postings get little or no response LOTS OF LOOKERS>>>NO REACTION.......hopefully, that will change................I would speculate that the "Dog Race" owner really does not want to sell this rare machine. There was a posting on PENNY MACHINES asking members to name the one machine they regret having sold. ..... I WILL MAKE YOU A SIDE BET THAT THE 25 cent DOG RACE GETS BURIED WITH ITS PRESENT OWNER.. roger

[pennymachines]

Cheers Roger and well done for getting our juices going. I've learned more about the game thanks to this thread. Please don't become like the LOOKERS you talk of - I'm sure you have much more to tell us, and it doesn't have to be British!

I acquired my Motorcycle Races thanks to a brief comment by Steve Hunt in the Deal Directory. He'd seen the games while visiting a well known dealer. I was sufficiently intrigued by the mention of an unknown racing game to make the journey myself. They were in quite poor condition and I was offered the kind of proposal with which Gameswat is familiar: "you can have one if you restore the other". Only it was more like, "you can buy one if you restore the other." Nevertheless, I couldn't resist and, although I began to regret it during the restoration, it's a machine I'd find hard to part with.

[john t peterson]

I echo Roger's comments. Kudos and thanks to all who participated or followed along. This is one of the many things that makes the Pennymachines community so special. If one were to try and get this information out of a prestigious auction house like Christies, one could expect to pay a pretty penny. Even then, the opinion rendered by their "expert" would pale in comparison to what was offered up gratis by the knowledgable members of this forum. As we say in the States, you gentlemen and gentlewomen rock!

J Peterson
Your Humble American admirer

[treefrog]

I am amazed that most postings get little or no response LOTS OF LOOKERS>>>NO REACTION.......hopefully, that will change...........

Of course some of us have not got a clue, so we cannot contribute unfortunately, just watch and learn

[roger]

Topic merged - site admin.

On april 8 (discoveries) "motorcycle races" was pictured as being similar to "dog races" however, there wasn't any background or crowd scene shown.....The background as shown on "dog race" would certainly not be appropriate for a motorcycle stadium.... I would appreciate a full picture of the "motorcycle races" and your comments..... Australians need not reply, as I do not want any more trivia about your antiquated flush toilets... roger.