Jentzsch & Meerz Simplex catcher

[badpenny]

.......... and the knobs look the same!

[treefrog]

Thanks for the advice. So I went back today and it was still there.... but the top pediment now was missing half the wood... I had noticed one side was split when visiting before, but someone must have leant on it. Anyway, it is all there and is a clean break, so made an offer again and got it for £450 from the original £580 price tag. Should be a simple clamp and glue repair. In terms of the sign, it looks old to me, the card is embossed with each letter cut out of white paper for each letter and stuck on the embossed card (you can see the N below, which I need to glue back on). On the back is a very old maker stamp, which I can hardly read, but appears to be some Arcade in Snow Hill in Birmingham, with an old phone number Central 433. Can't read the card maker's name. I would suggest this is period, which is good.
So fairly pleased and plays well, just need to keep my eye on some period spandrels and packets of 5 woodbine. Also I can see two areas where card signs on the playfield would have had instructions on, e.g. turn knob and 1D etc., etc. So until I can see another one, will make some cards with appropriate words on.....

[badpenny]

Well done Tom, you know it was the right thing to do.

What worries me is that now you've learnt to negotiate assertively, how I am going to sell you a machine the next time you and Khan visit?

[treefrog]

Ha ah BP, yes I am getting better. This is the longest I have taken to dwell over a purchase. Found another picture from the Costa sale of 2006 of a very similar machine with cigarette vendor. It is interesting these Nic Costa auctions at Christies, so many of the machines like catchers were described as Electric shockers, of course they weren't. Maybe bad advice.

I would love to get catalogues from the two auctions, suspect you guys are hoarding them and wish I was collecting at that time as an awful lot of nice machines were sold then.

[pennymachines]

Well done on your purchase and nice price.
The one above is catalogued as The Bulldog, although the only difference seems to be the fancy upper casting where the ball emerges and the bulldog on the moving shield.
I would imagine it was re-themed after WW1 with the British Bulldog to disguise its German origin.

[arrgee]

I notice that in virtually all these photos, there is a metal lock plate presumably to help prevent forcing the lock. As these plates are the same I am wondering whether this is an indication that these machines are all from the same manufacturer

[pennymachines]

They're all by Jentzsch & Meerz of Leipzig, Germany.

[treefrog]

Well another one to add to the thread, this time on Ebay and one hell of a project for someone.....from one of our members I believe...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151522160833? ... EBIDX%3AIT

[arrgee]

I think the cows have been at it...........and the chickens, and the sheep and the mice
come on Jimmy, nice little winter project for you.

[slotalot]

Only one careful owner from new
and 25 others who couldn't give a ******* but I am sure someone will fall in love with it and give it a new life..

[jimmycowman]

I was trying to work out how many hours to fix or find a donor case ????

[safetyman1005]

well another one to add to the thread, this time on Ebay and one hell of a project for someone.....from one of our members I believe, ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151522160833? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Hi there I managed to buy Allwin project from EBAY, should keep me going to spring!!
Earlier this year I bought an Allwin restoration job see photos and managed to save from the skip.
I'll let you know how I get on with this one.

Brian T

[bryans fan]

I guess you can also walk on water, and turn water into wine.
What a fabulous rescue! Well done indeeed!

[jimmycowman]

Well done on that resto job I look forward to seeing the end result on your latest project..... it's been sent today.
All the best

[john t peterson]

Safetyman,

Can I possibly entice you to move to Tennessee? Or at least visit for six months? I have equally challenging machines that require your magic.

Another member, Australian by birth, has the same offer.

J Peterson
Man the safety boats in America

[treefrog]

Great restoration

On your new project, I was trying to work out if anything is missing, the only things I can see are the actual payout tray, which should not be tough to make and the payout knob/controls for the payout (unless they are not in the picture).....I was a little confused as the payout control on most of these, including mine is above the catcher control on the left of the door, but suspect yours was the same of the one posted by Bryans fan and just to the left of the payout tray, so on the lower wood panel.....

[safetyman1005]

Hi there
I thought I'd give you an update on the project.
I used the back board as a template but because the bottom was missing, I had to jiggle about all the parts until I got it to work. I replaced a lot of the rusty levers.
I managed to save the original lock by drilling out the tumblers [as locksmith not interested] but he did supply a blank profile key.
I've still got to make the cabinet (waiting for some timber).
Photo below shows door as at today.

[jimmycowman]

That's a first class job. .........

[badpenny]

I second that!

[slotalot]

And I third it!!!...............