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Re: Clown Catcher, info please
Yours is the 'standard', most common (but very nice) Jentzsch & Meerz version.
Certainly tokens were more likely to be tolerated than cash payouts.
If fired with the same force, it will also decelerate more quickly on its upward path.
To my mind, that is the only part of the machine that suggests it's French. The cabinet doesn't look like fruit-wood, the distinctive trigger can be seen on several Handan-Ni games, and even the mechanism has a British feel to it. Are the English instructions hand written or printed?santelmann wrote: ↑Fri Jul 03, 2020 5:52 amThe "Brevete SGDG" coin insert was a typical purchased part, used for various machines.
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Re: Clown Catcher, info please
I have just caught up with this post and hope the following will help. A lot of the observations seem to be correct, firstly the machine is English not French, secondly it is I believe a rare Handan Ni machine. I am posting pictures of my machine, which you can see the ball launch on yours seems to have been altered. Does the twisting lever half way up right hand do anything? On mine it launches the ball via a complicated mechanism. This causes the hammer, as yours, to fire the ball the full height of the machine (on mine the spring is not strong enough to take the ball into play) but as the machine is unrestored in any way I can see, I have not tried to replace it with a stronger spring. The ball is NOT a steel ball bearing but a composite ball. The token payout is with Handan Ni tokens, which are significantly smaller than normal clown tokens and the payout cup on mine is classic Handan Ni. If I can help with any additional pictures of mech., please ask. Your machine seems to have a token tube but not connected. What diameter is your tube?
- pennymachines
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Re: Handan Ni Clown Catcher identified
Sweetmeats - your Clown is now in the Museum.
Interesting that Handan-Ni made two variants. Suggests they made quite a few.

Interesting that Handan-Ni made two variants. Suggests they made quite a few.
Re: Handan Ni Clown Catcher identified
I had one which I always thought was Handan-Ni. Same hardware and case as sweetmeats but a bit nicer looking 

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Re: Handan-Ni Clown identified
Wow! And all four different. 

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Re: Handan-Ni Clown identified
The Phœnix Works
Coin Automatic Machine Manufacturers
38 Hurst Street
Birmingham.
Coin Automatic Machine Manufacturers
38 Hurst Street
Birmingham.
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Re: Handan-Ni Clown identified
Hello
Thank you all for the most interesting information.
In answer to a few questions.
The token tube internal diameter is 17mm the new post 1971 decimal half pence is ideal as the tokens.
I attach pics of the token payout slot and the trigger lever.
Some internal brass parts are stamped with numbers as in the pics.
The machine is stamped internally on the wood 123 and externally 192. I know a little of woodwork and in my opinion everything matches, no alteration of hinges door or case or adjustment to fit.
The lever half way up the right side turns the visible half moon device that holds the ball and then releases it when the lever is turned. On payment the ball pops out of the hole and is held at the half moon until the lever is turned, then rolling down to the trigger.
The lever also resets the holding mechanism inside and I guess thats why it is there.......if that all makes sense?
If you win you get a token and a free ball.
As you can see the instruction is in English.
Thanks
BarryIsland
Thank you all for the most interesting information.
In answer to a few questions.
The token tube internal diameter is 17mm the new post 1971 decimal half pence is ideal as the tokens.
I attach pics of the token payout slot and the trigger lever.
Some internal brass parts are stamped with numbers as in the pics.
The machine is stamped internally on the wood 123 and externally 192. I know a little of woodwork and in my opinion everything matches, no alteration of hinges door or case or adjustment to fit.
The lever half way up the right side turns the visible half moon device that holds the ball and then releases it when the lever is turned. On payment the ball pops out of the hole and is held at the half moon until the lever is turned, then rolling down to the trigger.
The lever also resets the holding mechanism inside and I guess thats why it is there.......if that all makes sense?
If you win you get a token and a free ball.
As you can see the instruction is in English.
Thanks
BarryIsland
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