ACE Automatic Coin Eqpt "Ring-a-bell"

[rdog16]

Hello.
I am a newbie. I have in my possession an ACE Automatic Coin Eqpt "Ring-a-bell" machine dated 1971 on an inspection certificate in the machine. It has suffered a little bit and is a bit tired.

Can anyone tell me anything more about the machine and the company's history? Oh and I suppose the 'Antique road show' question of how much is it worth? It is described as Automatic Coin Eqpt rather than ACE and I know they were based out of Talbot Green and closed down in 2011 and the directors moved onto JPM International.

The machine, the lights, the bell ringer, the bell all work fine. The payout odds calculator may be a bit squew wiff as it seems to break even on pay out. It takes decimal 1p coins.
The mirrored glass panel has broken (some errant child) and much as I would love to replace it with new I think that would be more a labour of love rather than a sensible exercise in cost versus value.
The damp has got into the glass and damaged the original art work on the lower screen but I have had that re-done by an artist friend. And the Chrome on the glass surrounds has blistered/ spotted / Rusted and I simply rubbed it down and used craft "metalic" paint to refurb. I know this is not the best effect but again I worked on sensible exercise in cost versus value.
Thoughts and opinions please
Kind regards
R

[youngerap]

Hi, Rdog and welcome to the PennyMachines site.

The most common advice offered to new members is :



I have no doubt some of the resident Gurus will be able to offer advice, but they do need something to work with and photos work best (the rest of us are just a bit nosey and like to see what you have).

[rdog16]

Sorry, not quite sure how to post photos.

Oh that may be it!

[clubconsoles]

hi rdog16
These 1970s machines are not really considered prime collectable's yet, but that will change with the passage of time.
I would highly recommend joining this facebook group, these people really love machines of this era and know all about ACE coin.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1501266156772959/
As for value, £100 if glass was intact, about a third of that with the broken reel glass.
A nice machine with that farirground stricker theme, and i hope you do treat it as a labour of love rather than an investment!
all the best!

[coppinpr]

Not really my thing either but this machine is interesting as it really seems to be right on the changover between traditional bandits and modern all electric cabinet machines, rare to see a mechanical feature on a machine like this

[moonriver]

Ace Coin made a few different themed machines similar to this, experimenting with automated figures. A casino one with players seated , a coconut shy theme, this fairground striker, a western theme, dating from mid to late 1960's.
As usual other competitors of the day made other versions. Bell Fruit made Waterwheel. Most of the Ace models crop up on Ebay quite regularly, usually having been dumped in a garage for decades. Will they slowly appreciate in value like the Brenco's ? I think the better value of the storage space will see them off first.

[rdog16]

Thank you everyone for the updates and background. Can anyone recommend a "restorer" who could manage the glass work? And is it expensive?

[riche100]

Why not use Perspex?

[pennymachines]

Have a look at this thread: Bell Fruit Three Penny Supreme
If you do it yourself, it's cheap.

[rdog16]

Forgive me, Perspex?

And thank you everyone else.

[clubconsoles]

perspex is too brittle IMO.
Go to any comprehensive glazing company and ask for 5 - 6 mm polycarbonate (same stuff used for police riot sheilds)

[pennymachines]

Why not use glass?

[gameswat]

Polycarb scratches way too easily for use on any surface other than vertical. Just the dust that collects and then wiped off will quickly scratch it up, let alone people touching it and dropping coins etc. We used to rent old jukeboxes for parties in the 70's to 90's and in the late 80's my father purchased a then very expensive sheet of Lexan to replace glasses that occasionally got smashed and caused more trouble with beer getting in the machines than anything else. These were mid 60's AMI models with horizontal glasses just like this slot machine. They looked good for about 2 months and then I had to polish them once a week with a car buffer. But they never looked like glass again and quickly went a little wonky and made the labels hard to read, so we removed them all and I'm still using up pieces of that leftover Lexan!

[livinginthepast]

These are straightforward machines to work on but as I remember everything is working on 240 volts so be careful. Make sure all earth links are connected. Good luck.