Powells Automatics

[steinslots]

Whilst working in the arcades during the '90s, I sometimes got a chance to visit the BACTA amusement trades exhibition. I remember having a conversation with a Mr Powell on the Powell's Automatics stand. He said they were in the process of acquiring large amounts of 1970s bandits with the intention of using the mechs to build machines using their own reproduction Mills castings, some of which were on display at their stand. I noted that none of the repro's had escalators or jackpots and most of the bandits were configured as basic 3, 5, ...10...20 payouts.
The prices were higher than that of the second-hand machine prices we were used to, but they did have new wooden cabinets and they were built to the same high quality as the originals. They also had a range of repro Allwins.

These repro's were aimed at the people who could afford expensive toys, but they also sold some for site use.

This incidentally left them with large stocks of secondhand cabinet spares for Segas, Jubilees, Aristocrats and the like.

I don't know if they still do the repro machines, but they seemed to be selling quite a few. They also cater for the older, more original machines.

Whilst a little pricey I have in the past found them to be a good source of hard to get spares like glass panels, escalator parts and certain denominations of coin payout slides, if you've tried everywhere else.

There are also quite a few restored original collectors machines for sale: Here's the link:
http://www.1armedbandit.co.uk/80336/info.php?p=1

[widget2k4]

I was down talking to him a couple of weeks ago and found him to be very helpful and so friendly
I thought he was quite reasonable for my Governor spares and very quick at sorting out the bits I needed.
Of course, it was like Aladdin's cave and I thought I had gone to heaven
Well worth a visit if you're stuck for parts.

[steinslots]

He got me the original glass for a Jubilee Golden Falls, plus the surround strips - all chromed.
I never would have found those myself.

[widget2k4]

The guy's trying to make a living, so I don't think he's very expensive at all really, plus if he's the only person that's got the hard to get parts - well you're just going to have to pay or do without I suppose.

[steinslots]

Powells have been going for absolutely ages. They still get a lot of trade from seaside arcades and casino slots.

[slotalot]

Powell's has been on the go for many years, but it is no longer run by Henry Powell, nor has it been for some years.
Sadly Henry passed away in April of this year RIP, I believe that it is now run by his son.

[widget2k4]

his son must be called Henry as well ?
they used to be just a couple of miles from me but moved a few miles further south a few years back.

[steinslots]

There is indeed a Henry Powell Jnr.