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Hi folks, I'm new to the penny slot group but I try to buy and save antique stuff when I can. I'm in the US and had the opportunity to buy a Whales "Strike 'Em" game the other day. It's pretty intact but the back panel art has cracked and fallen inside...I think that's common... otherwise the top glass with the name and the front glass is intact. The case could be refinished... but the internal parts are pretty complete...I haven't had a chance to check, but I think the coin tray is missing...I know the lock is gone.

So my question for the experts is: should I just remove all the parts and sell them individually or should I try to recover the machine? And if the latter, are there any parts available?

Thanks for your consideration

Hello and welcome.....

Your machine was discussed in the forum not long ago and is one of the more appealing machines in the U.K.... In fact, the last one sold for just under $3000 here in November.

It would be great to see pictures which will help people confirm what if anything is missing, but it is unlikely the machine would be worth more broken up as there are few bits to sell anyway, so is almost certainly restorable.

Strike 'EM - Elephant House auction

Thanks! I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow... I've been busy working 2 jobs as a lot of folks do. Then maybe you all can give a better opinion on what I should do. Thanks again

Here are some pictures

Nothing hard to fix there. You could have that looking brand new in no time.

Very good! Is there a place to get parts and, especially, the play field art?

Are you sure there are parts missing? I see the payout hopper is in the back of the case. Lower door hinges?
The playfield graphic is tricky, but as everything else looks good, I'm sure it's worth going the extra mile to obtain. Is there anyone here who owns this rare machine and is prepared to take some nice big pictures of the playfield to process in Photoshop?

That would have to be done... I'm sure I can find someone... the hinges are there just removed...

And no, I wasn't sure but I figured it had to be missing something... The guy I bought it from said it worked and was complete, but since the door was off and the lock was missing, I assumed the worst... He didn't know anything about it... not even the maker or anything.

Also this particular game featured a bell.. does anyone know what type battery runs it?

I'm guessing from the bracket it may have been an Ever Ready 4.5 volt lantern battery which were very common at the time. There are modern equivalents.

Thanks! I'll see if I can gently clean the old art out of it and see whether it works. I found someone over there who can do the art work on archival laminated paper and then I can secure it to the back. I think that's as close as I can get.

Risking eviction from the EH sale yesterday, I removed the glass (to eliminate reflections) and took a couple of pics of the Strike 'Em for you. I also had to take it at an angle to further reduce glare and reflections on the flash itself. I've tried to correct this in Photoshop, but it will have introduced some distortions. Anyway, hopefully it will help. Click image, then click 'Toggle Size' to enlarge. Sold for £2,200.

What a good chap you are!
I would have expected nothing less from you.

Yes indeed, that was a kind thought.

Wow! I really appreciate it! That's some beautiful artwork. I'm going to have to see about getting it reproduced and installed... the bell too, mine is missing, although it shouldn't be too hard to find a replacement. That's a lot of money although that machine looks pretty pristine...

Our Mr. PM, aka James Bond, secret agent man.

J Peterson
Secret American