Bajazzo Clown wall machines
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Re: Handan-Ni Clown identified
Hello
Thank you all for the most interesting information.
In answer to a few questions.
The token tube internal diameter is 17mm the new post 1971 decimal half pence is ideal as the tokens.
I attach pics of the token payout slot and the trigger lever.
Some internal brass parts are stamped with numbers as in the pics.
The machine is stamped internally on the wood 123 and externally 192. I know a little of woodwork and in my opinion everything matches, no alteration of hinges door or case or adjustment to fit.
The lever half way up the right side turns the visible half moon device that holds the ball and then releases it when the lever is turned. On payment the ball pops out of the hole and is held at the half moon until the lever is turned, then rolling down to the trigger.
The lever also resets the holding mechanism inside and I guess thats why it is there.......if that all makes sense?
If you win you get a token and a free ball.
As you can see the instruction is in English.
Thanks
BarryIsland
Thank you all for the most interesting information.
In answer to a few questions.
The token tube internal diameter is 17mm the new post 1971 decimal half pence is ideal as the tokens.
I attach pics of the token payout slot and the trigger lever.
Some internal brass parts are stamped with numbers as in the pics.
The machine is stamped internally on the wood 123 and externally 192. I know a little of woodwork and in my opinion everything matches, no alteration of hinges door or case or adjustment to fit.
The lever half way up the right side turns the visible half moon device that holds the ball and then releases it when the lever is turned. On payment the ball pops out of the hole and is held at the half moon until the lever is turned, then rolling down to the trigger.
The lever also resets the holding mechanism inside and I guess thats why it is there.......if that all makes sense?
If you win you get a token and a free ball.
As you can see the instruction is in English.
Thanks
BarryIsland
Re: Bajazzo Clown wall machines
Hi,
I've just joined the forum to hopefully find some information on this Clown catcher that has been in the family for at least 70 years amusing generations of kids. (Hence the bandage on the mechanism applied by a grandmother to protect little hands) It still works fine. I've had a look through the posts and the clown image and "spandrels" appear different to those on the images I've seen posted. There are no stamps on the case at all. I've attached a couple of pics. Any thoughts from you good people would be much appreciated.
I've just joined the forum to hopefully find some information on this Clown catcher that has been in the family for at least 70 years amusing generations of kids. (Hence the bandage on the mechanism applied by a grandmother to protect little hands) It still works fine. I've had a look through the posts and the clown image and "spandrels" appear different to those on the images I've seen posted. There are no stamps on the case at all. I've attached a couple of pics. Any thoughts from you good people would be much appreciated.
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Re: Bajazzo Clown wall machines
Hi blueboy and welcome.
What a cute game!
I think you've added yet another to our already substantial collection of Clowns that are difficult to match with a specific manufacturer.
The anomalous features are (as you say) the spandrels, but also the clown himself, who's slightly more stout and flat faced than usual. In other respects, it conforms closely to the Jentzsch & Meerz design. I believe there should be a decorative circular pressing around the ball exit.
My guess, for what it's worth, is that it may have emerged from William Thompson's Birmingham-based Coin Operating Company (also known as Phoenix Manufacturing Company), one of several British makers who produced versions in the 1920s. They employed the quite distinctive spandrels that your game sports. A spandrel isn't much to go on, because such items were often bought in from general suppliers, but I don't think I've seen this type on any but Thompson's games. See Re. New member with allwin
However, we already have three Clowns attributed to the Coin Operating Company and they don't have the flat-faced clown or the 'Thompson spandrels' - nor are they identical to each other!
The one from their catalogue is quite similar:
This one, less so. The popular game was churned out for decades, so maybe redesigns are to be expected.
What a cute game!
I think you've added yet another to our already substantial collection of Clowns that are difficult to match with a specific manufacturer.
The anomalous features are (as you say) the spandrels, but also the clown himself, who's slightly more stout and flat faced than usual. In other respects, it conforms closely to the Jentzsch & Meerz design. I believe there should be a decorative circular pressing around the ball exit.
My guess, for what it's worth, is that it may have emerged from William Thompson's Birmingham-based Coin Operating Company (also known as Phoenix Manufacturing Company), one of several British makers who produced versions in the 1920s. They employed the quite distinctive spandrels that your game sports. A spandrel isn't much to go on, because such items were often bought in from general suppliers, but I don't think I've seen this type on any but Thompson's games. See Re. New member with allwin
However, we already have three Clowns attributed to the Coin Operating Company and they don't have the flat-faced clown or the 'Thompson spandrels' - nor are they identical to each other!
The one from their catalogue is quite similar:
This one, less so. The popular game was churned out for decades, so maybe redesigns are to be expected.
- coppinpr
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Early machine ID needed please
A member on my website has asked if I can find the answers to a couple of questions about these two machines.*Topic merged & post split to: The Diamond & The Crescent info- Site Admin.
Is this clown catcher German or British, and is it unusual in any way?
Is this clown catcher German or British, and is it unusual in any way?
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Re: Bajazzo Clown wall machines
Bigger images would help when trying to identify machines...
The Clown is more or less identical to the one posted by daveslot earlier in this topic.
It's almost certainly British, probably Handan-Ni.
The Clown is more or less identical to the one posted by daveslot earlier in this topic.
It's almost certainly British, probably Handan-Ni.
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Re: Clown Catcher payout conversion
Kevin wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:29 am ...
Also any thoughts as to age and maker? I can find no markings at all, except for a few barely-legible letters and numbers stamped into the inside back of the case, and RH272 on one of the levers.
Any information would be greatly received! I think it is a lovely machine and it definitely will not be going back into storage!
...
Hey.
The letters "RH" appear in some old machines from "Jentzsch & Meerz".
I think the letters stand for Reinhard Hoffmann. Hoffmann had his own vending machines company from 1902 to 1911, also in Leipzig. J&M started their company in January 1903 in Leipzig-Gohlis.
Hoffmann built the Bajazzo from 1910, mainly for foreign countries under the names "Le Clown" and "The Clown". In the summer of 1911 his entire factory was bought by "Jentzsch & Meerz". They closed their old company and moved to Hoffmann's factory building. It was only then that J&M began building Bajazzo/Clown machines.
Therefore, I believe that this machine is either a very old machine from Hoffmann's company (year of construction would be between 1910 and 1911), or a J&M device in which old Hoffmann components were still installed (1911 - ca. 1920).
Joerg
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Re: Bajazzo Clown wall machines
Great information, Joerg. Thanks for sharing.
J Peterson
American clown
J Peterson
American clown
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Re: Bajazzo Clown wall machines
I have read with interest the last post by joerg and his great website. I have just checked my clown catcher and have exactly the same stamping on the same component as shown by forum member 'Kevin'. Mine also has a stamping 3322b on one top side of the cabinet, the top of the cabinet, the inside of the back and a small brass plaque near the lock, with PMWG on the other top side of the cabinet. Could this [the RH stamping] go some way in affirming that Pessers Moody Wraith and Gurr didn't actually make clown catchers but just put their branding on them?
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Re: Bajazzo Clown wall machines
Reinhard Hoffmann never sold his machines himself, not even in Germany. He always offered them through dealers such as Holzweißig or Ernst Berger. He may have offered the machines through a dealer in England or produced them for a British company.
Besides the initials "RH" there is another feature by which you can recognize Hoffmann- and later also J&M-machines:
He often (not always) used special security screws with two holes:
On German machines they are actually only to be found on Hoffmann- and J&M-devices. I don't know whether British companies also used such screws.
Besides the initials "RH" there is another feature by which you can recognize Hoffmann- and later also J&M-machines:
He often (not always) used special security screws with two holes:
On German machines they are actually only to be found on Hoffmann- and J&M-devices. I don't know whether British companies also used such screws.
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Le Clown Bajazzo
Topic merged - Site Admin.
Hi,
I just won a Le Clown Bajazzo at auction and have a few things to repair on it once it arrives. Does anyone have a new clown or scanned file to print a new one? I also need the award card/instructions as well, as per the picture here.
Appreciate your help, cheers.
Hi,
I just won a Le Clown Bajazzo at auction and have a few things to repair on it once it arrives. Does anyone have a new clown or scanned file to print a new one? I also need the award card/instructions as well, as per the picture here.
Appreciate your help, cheers.
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Re: Le Clown Bajazzo
I've attached a photo of the Clown Instructions. You will see that the text (and the font) vary from your example so it might be best to use a software drawing package to make up the card Anyway, for what it's worth, here is a copy of mine.
Clown instructions
Awesome! Thank you guys. This is a photo of the one I have purchased. It hasn't arrived yet but got it at auction. Just getting everything in order so I can start restoring it once it does arrive.
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Re: Bajazzo Clown wall machines
Unusually elaborate spandrels.
I wonder what the brass knob, left side, top is for?
I wonder what the brass knob, left side, top is for?
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