Sweetmeats postcards

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treefrog
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by treefrog »

Found another at the cottage in Chudleigh in Devon, obviously in their early days of Mutoscopes.

On my comments earlier, it is funny to see what we consider rare high end machines now in such basic locations. They must have been very expensive then - amazing they got a return on them.

Only thing I could find on Lord George Clowes, was that he was a Circus proprietor from Brighton. Maybe that is on Brighton promenade.
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pennymachines
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by pennymachines »

Some fantastic postcards there Sweetmeats! !!YIPPEE!! It's so cool to see these machines in the context of their original settings. Clearly pier-heads and pubs were favourite locales before the concept of a dedicated arcade had evolved.
Gameswat wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2018 5:16 pm The huge collection of machines in that one photo is amazing.
That's my collection - with Nursey in the foreground. ;-)
sweetmeats
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by sweetmeats »

Regarding the 'Lord George Clowes' postcard, when I brought this postcard from ebay about 10 years ago I googled Lord George Clowes' but found nothing. I also had the postcard re-mastered and enlarged to A3 which I now have framed. This shows that the machines are set on scaffolding in front of an aquarium set in what appears to an arch similar to those in Brighton! The family at street level holding the banner by the railings with the wife/mother by the scales at the lower level. There are 16 clockwork working models in the picture that to my knowledge are ALL unknown to exist today, together with many other machines not seen before including three two player boxing games of similar style Ells. Treefrog would be very interested in any information you have found on ' Lord Clowes ' give me a call if you still have my number.
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by pennymachines »

I think TF may be refering to: WAR CIRCUS: A-Z LIST CIRCUS 1914-1918
CLOWES, George

Aka: Lord George Clowes

Job: Circus Proprietor, Brighton

1914-1918 Notes: 1916 exemption denied, Served, wounded in back & chest in Belgium August 2017.

Ref:. N. The World’s Fair, 7/10/16 and 21/8/17
I assume 'August 2017' should read 'August 1917'.
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treefrog
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by treefrog »

Yes, you're right Mr pm. Just googling, but I wonder if Brighton is a red herring, as another article which had been posted in the Liverpool Echo pointed to New Brighton near Wallasea, opposite Liverpool. It had a pier and a popular Victorian seaside town.
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by pennymachines »

That's interesting, I also started to go down the New Brighton route but you seem to have nailed it! Strange, because the ironwork in the background of the A3 enlarged photo, as Sweetmeats says, looks like the arches at Brighton, East Sussex.
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by 13rebel »

Brilliant! Thank you so much for posting, Sweetmeats. May we see some more please?
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treefrog
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by treefrog »

The address mentions “Tower”. I reckon this was the New Brighton Tower built around 1890, once the tallest building in Britain. It fell into disrepair after the First World War and was taken down, but had many uses, including a permanent funfair which went into the 1960s. I suspect this was where this was based. The Beatles played there and Buffalo Bill.... There is a book with many pictures available....

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brighton_Tower

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/roy0589/the ... -isbn-978/
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by coppinpr »

Found another at the cottage in Chudleigh in Devon, obviously in their early days of Mutoscopes.

On my comments earlier, it is funny to see what we consider rare high end machines now in such basic locations. They must have been very expensive then - amazing they got a return on them.
Actually, not such a strange location in its day. At that time certain country villages in areas of particular beauty suddenly became the "in" place were very popular holiday and day trip venues. Tea rooms, picnic areas and even fun-fairs were common attractions at these rural sites. There were two close to me in east Sussex Alfriston (which survives today as much the same attraction, although now reached by car and not rail), and the Devils Dyke (which is now just a beauty spot, but once boasted a hotel, two pubs, two tea rooms and a permanent fun fair). Your postcard of Chudleigh was one of these areas of particular beauty that caught on and, amazingly, the cottage still exists and is a popular bed and breakfast with its own website. More than likely a tea rooms in the day of the postcard. :cool:
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by radiochrissie »

Your last postcard shows the Tivoli Theatre on the right hand side. Strangely enough, this was where I bought my four reels Mills in 1970. Not used as a theatre for many years, the stalls had been used as an amusement arcade in the sixties. It closed for good the same year. All those years ago but I can still remember the smell inside that place, old wood and grease with a touch of Hai Karate (that was me). :lol:
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bryans fan
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by bryans fan »

Many thanks to Sweetmeats for sharing some fantastic images. It is great to see machines "on Location" and such a great diversity.

I had not realised that the Racer was available as a floor standing machine. I had only been aware of the counter top version. Great to share these images, every day is a school day! Lovely card.
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by pennymachines »

I was trying to find an image of an Essex Racer when Gameswat posted the Greyhound 2 player Race in the USA a few days ago. The picket fencing, linear course and turning handles all seem to match. Compare and contrast:
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by bryans fan »

Here are two Images from my collection.

The first is a photo and has Southport 1928 written in pencil on the rear.

southport 1928012.jpg

The second is a post card with no info. I am guessing Hastings Pier, as its similar to other images I have saved from the net.

Pier Group poss Hastings013.jpg

The last two are images I have saved from the net. No idea where I got them!
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13rebel
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by 13rebel »

Great! Thanks BF.
sweetmeats
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by sweetmeats »

Following bryans fan's additions I have had another sort through my postcards and offer the following cards that I hope to be of interest.

Firstly a couple of chocolate venders including a rarely seen Peter's Swiss milk chocolate.


1.jpg


2.jpg

The back of the postcard is marked Folkestone, no date.

Here are four of the twelve Hastings pier cards I still own. I let several of these go to a collector in the USA. Also a postcard outside a soda bar in New York showing a Beverly twister similar to the star lot in the Smith sale. I have seen another half a dozen of these cards showing Mills owl lifter, cast iron golfer and Palmers Racer. In fact I have seen Hastings postcards with a Palmers Racer in five different locations! These photos all seem to have been taken by a professional man who took group pictures by the pavilion regrettably most show a preference for people to machines!

There are a number of unusual machines not seen by me on any other location. Does anyone have an idea what the wall machine is that looks like rock-face in a simulated brick case? The fortune teller looks to be a converted USA poker machine, but I have been told that a fortune teller in a similar case was made in the USA. I have been unable to find an illustration. This machine is on 1/2 penny, play.
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gameswat
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by gameswat »

That's a Mills Jumbo Success Fortune Teller, and yes based on the card machine. You can actually see the Mills decal on the side the photo is so good.
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john t peterson
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by john t peterson »

Gameswat. You let a wolf sleep on top of your footballer? Naughty, naughty. :tut

J Peterson
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coppinpr
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by coppinpr »

I wonder if this photographer made a living taking photos of Charabanc day trip groups. four of the photos have between 50 and 54 people in them and one 20. The standard pre WW1 Charabanc had a capacity of 24/28. The close proximity of the people to each other would hint they at least know each other and the "Sunday best" clothes would hint at a special occasion. As usual, no one is smiling, probably for the same reason the Mona Lisa isn't really smiling. :lol: (note the smiley )
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by sweetmeats »

Have added a close up enlargement of the Mills fortune teller above Mills Fortune Teller and below fortunes For Ladies.
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Re: Sweetmeats postcards

Post by bryans fan »

It would appear the place to go for mutoscopes was Barry Island!

Barry Island slots in front of Refreshment Rooms.bmp

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