Metal fronted mystery cigarette skill game

[gameswat]

Just noticed something I'd totally missed after looking closely at all these photos many times! There are two versions of these machines - either an open chute below the button for the cig and Penny to fall into, or a drawer below the button that you have to pull open after pushing the button. I have the drawer version. And the drawer machines have three rivets holding the coin entry casting together while the others don't.

[gameswat]

These are very unusual machines as they have the most basic vending mechanism I've ever seen in person. The drawer version shown here has three moving parts - button, spring loaded flap and drawer. While the chute delivery version apparently only has two moving parts, button and flap!

[gameswat]

Finally got around to finishing the machine. And I love everything about it! What a classic and such an unusual design. Really enjoyed bringing this back. It needed a new ply back panel, two oak side wings, two oak feet, alloy plunger lever, the lower internal wood bracket for keeping the case from moving when closed, re-keying the lock and both glasses. Oh, and new paint to the casting after scraping off overpaint to find the original colours. Using methylated spirits and rag I was able to carefully remove the layer of darkened shellac or lacquer to reveal the very nice original varnish underneath. I still need to make a cashbox if anybody has one to photograph for me please?

[gameswat]

And another thing, does anybody have one of these machines with the Ha'penny reject flap spring still in place? There appears to only be one machine pictured (in fetching all over blue livery) that has it intact shown below. But for the life of me I couldn't find any holes to attach such a flap in my game? Possibly they used the two bolts that attach the coin entry casting? Ah, just dawned on me, maybe it was attached to the coin entry casting!?! Will take it off and look for some way of doing that.

[widget2k4]

Excellent job as usual mate, well done.

Very interesting post to follow as well.

[gameswat]

Cheers Widge. I'm now calling this machine the "Clown-A-Cig".

[gameswat]

A lot of time went into making this stupid little thing. But it really had to be there originally because otherwise a Ha'penny will enter the playfield and easily be shot into the winning hole, sometimes they auto reject into the payout drawer and other times jam up down there. Anyway a lot of prototyping to get it right. I used .26 mm tin which seemed to have the right amount of spring to allow the Pennies past but not the half pennies. I found it really helped to curl the end as this twists the smaller coins into falling out the back hole.

[john t peterson]

Brillant, Gameswat. The only problem? You'll have to sell it for $2,000 to get proper remuneration for the time spent restoring this machine.

J Peterson
American Appraiser

[special when lit]

[coppinpr]

very nice machine and work

[gameswat]

Thanks SWL & Cop,