Frank Harwood invented the Allwin Deluxe?

American, British, French or German? We want to know about it.
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pennymachines
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Frank Harwood invented the Allwin Deluxe?

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I think we more or less solved the Seven mysteries of the Saxony allwin, but an eighth mystery I didn't raise (because I thought there was little hope of a definitive answer) was "who invented the Allwin Deluxe?" Very early, rudimentary allwins can be traced back to 1900 - Nic Costa cites the German-made Heureka (possibly Polyphon Musikwerke) as the first. From around this time we find similar British (e.g. The Imperial) and French allwins. I think it's generally believed that the classic Allwin Deluxe (and Allwin Reserve) design, which all subsequent allwins more or less followed, originated in Germany - not least because old-timers referred to such games as Saxony allwins. It also seemed likely, as most were made by Jentzsch & Meerz, that the design was perfected in Leipzig.

I've therefore always assumed that Birmingham-based manufacturer, Frank Harwood, made copies of "Saxony allwins", minus a reserve ball mechanism. Just before Christmas I received an interesting email from his granddaughter, assuring me that it was...
Frank Harwood who invented this product that I have attached the original design below. I know there have been questions as to where this was made. I can absolutely tell you it was made and designed in Birmingham in the 1920s by my grandfather Frank Harwood.
.
hawtins.jpg

The 1920s would be the right period for the introduction of this game and I note the flyer claims "LETTERS PATENTS HAVE BEEN APPLIED FOR". The game is titled the New Alternating Allwin De-luxe and appears to be the standard Allwin Deluxe design. Curiously though, it has the ball stop gate on the left (as discussed in the 7 Mysteries thread), which is surely only required on a Reserve Ball machine. !PUZZLED!
Also with Aluminium backs for outside use at slightly extra cost.
Manufacturer:- FRANK HARWOOD. 80a, Smallbrook Street, Birmingham.
Sole English Selling Agent: A CHAPMAN. 349, Greenland Road, Sheffield.
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badpenny
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Re: Frank Harwood invented the Allwin Deluxe?

Post by badpenny »

349 Greenland Rd Sheffield no longer appears to exist.
Greenland Rd in the late 20s early 30s was a main rd while now it's a double lane dual carriageway.
Number 349 would have been situated in what is now the central carriageway.

If you click this link you'll see a Google map next to the corresponding Ordinance Survey map for 1937 - 61

It looks as if 349 corresponds to just to the right of the "d" of Greenland.

So no point of dashing over there with white five pond notes. :#:
pennymachines
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Re: Frank Harwood invented the Allwin Deluxe?

Post by pennymachines »

Likewise, Smallbrook Street disappeared when Birmingham centre was converted into a giant multi-storey car park (after Hitler had done his worst to it).
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Re: Frank Harwood invented the Allwin Deluxe?

Post by slotalot »

Smallbrook Street was quite near to were William Thompson set up shop in Birmingham in the 1920s, I wonder if they were rivals??
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Re: Frank Harwood invented the Allwin Deluxe?

Post by badpenny »

You mean the same woman? !UNSURE!
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