1933 Nervograph & Drivatest

[bryans fan]

I agree with Moonriver, something interesting at last!

Sadly I cannot help as I`ve never even seen anything like this before. I am glad that they are in safe hands, and will be returned to fully functioning. Please keep us informed as to the progress. I know it must be tricky if you ask for help!!
Can`t wait!

[bryans fan]

I can't help feeling I've seen something similar before........

But I am a bit biased!!

[special when lit]

What a cool machine!

[moonriver]

I love the top pediment with the car.

[gameswat]

I used to have one of these very interesting machines.

The only one I've heard about in the UK was owned by Clive Baker, is it the same one?

think I have still got a reel for it.

By reel I assume you do mean the paper roll?! I asked but really didn't believe that anybody would have one just laying around! Did your machine contain all the same tracks as mine, or were there variations? ?

[daveslot]

By reel I assume you do mean the paper roll?! I asked but really didn't believe that anybody would have one just laying around! Did your machine contain all the same tracks as mine, or were there variations? ?

I later bought two rolls from an arcade storeroom in Southend, gave one to Clive, kept the other.
Same 5 tracks as yours.

[gameswat]

Just came across this description of the Drivatest being shown at the April 1935 London Coin Machine Show, on the stand of The Amusement Equipment Company of Wembley. https://aa.arcade-museum.com/Automatic- ... 04-085.pdf

And this used Drivatest paper showing somebody who could not keep between the lines! This was obviously drawn with a biro, which my machine has been upgraded to. But the description of the original Nervograph in Automatic Age says the glass pen returns to an inkwell at the end of play. Possibly glass so it's easier to see the paper? Something else to research. My machine does have a small storage box built inside that is ink stained so obviously to hold spare ink.

[gameswat]

Result! Been six years since I had a good look at this machine and just now went through some junk in the cashbox I'd found laying inside. I'd always thought there were two small brass gears coated in old grease......except after cleaning they weren't. I have two glass dip pen nibs mounted into screw thread brass holders, both chipped, plus the original broken bakelite pen holder! Just looked and I can replace the glass nibs cheap enough if i want to go that route. But unless the game was being played a lot I imagine that ink drying up would become an issue? Maybe the pen seals up quite well into the original inkwell? Strangely for a machine with so much invested into it I can't come up with any Patents? And John Brenner wasn't shy about doing that with lesser machines.

[treefrog]

Bought an enamel slot machine topper from a fellow collector, but although it obviously relates to the machine in this thread, it appears not to be the shape of the machine in the advert. Maybe an earlier or later version of the machine.

[gameswat]

I've never seen that one Tree, interesting. What's are the dimensions as my guess would be it was made to bolt on to the top back edge of the marquee, note the three holes only along the bottom edge, and lack of any spare edging on top and sides to fit inside a frame. From the reasearch I've done I came across a related company they owned that was an enamel works. Which explained why the two triangular instruction plates inside my machine have been re-enamleed black over the original wording, never seen that anywhere before, why not just paint them black!? And never seen a machine with so many enamel panels either, much cheaper if you own the company.

[sentimental salvage]

Just found the photo of the Drivatest in Australia. And two advertisement photos.

I think that might be my Drivatest, I sold it recently.

[gameswat]

Checked my marquee and sure enough there are three bolt holes along the top edge, and the centre is slightly higher than the outer two, just as it appears to be on your sign too Tree. Outer holes are 12.75" apart to centres.

Just found the photo of the Drivatest in Australia. And two advertisement photos.

I think that might be my Drivatest, I sold it recently.

Yes, I've helped Kev out a little with that.

[treefrog]

Checked my marquee and sure enough there are three bolt holes along the top edge, and the centre is slightly higher than the outer two, just as it appears to be on your sign too Tree. Outer holes are 12.75" apart to centres.

Yes that is the same width….

[gameswat]

my guess would be it was made to bolt on to the top back edge of the marquee

Haha, damn that was a lucky guess, I seconded doubted it would actually fit!

[jingle]

They were my machines Rory
They came out the lot from mablethorpe around 2008
Lovely looking bits. I thought they had parts missing.
Never seen another of any of the 2

[gameswat]

I have some group pics you sent me when you found these Bob, one of the best finds in the last 40 years! Pity you couldn't have kept them all. But I guess you didn't want to be greedy and shared the love! Sadly I missed out on owning the Ahrens Talkie Scale from that same find of yours by just a few weeks as that was owned by the same American I got these two from. And then I later accidently became the owner of an Ahrens master recording for that scale, dammit!

[gameswat]

They came out the lot from mablethorpe around 2008

Hey Bob, so was that Marine Pastimes arcade?