Handan-Ni Clown identified

[pennymachines]

Yours is the 'standard', most common (but very nice) Jentzsch & Meerz version.

I did read somewhere that dispensing coins from a machine required a special license in Germany and this is why tokens were used instead.

Certainly tokens were more likely to be tolerated than cash payouts.

I agree the BB does look very small in the pics. Worth trying a more ‘normal’ size one and seeing how it works. It might also slow the fall a little as a larger ball will get more jostled by the pins.

If fired with the same force, it will also decelerate more quickly on its upward path.

The "Brevete SGDG" coin insert was a typical purchased part, used for various machines.

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?

[sweetmeats]

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]

Sweetmeats - your Clown is now in the Museum.
Interesting that Handan-Ni made two variants. Suggests they made quite a few.

[daveslot]

I had one which I always thought was Handan-Ni. Same hardware and case as sweetmeats but a bit nicer looking

[daveslot]

And another.

[pennymachines]

Wow! And all four different.

[pennymachines]

Same hardware and case as sweetmeats but a bit nicer looking

Added to the Museum.

Another British Clown - this one apparently from the Phoenix Works, Birmingham.

[brigham]

The Phœnix Works
Coin Automatic Machine Manufacturers
38 Hurst Street
Birmingham.

[barryisland]

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