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In preparation for a new decade, which I pre-emptively declare to be "THE DECADE OF LOVE," I'm inviting one and all to submit pictures of love testers. Below is a set of twins from Oliver Whales of Redcar, circa 1942. On the left is "Cupid's Arrow" and the right is "Love Meter Personalty." Clearly, both games were variations on the same theme: LOVE.

So, what do you have? Show me the LOVE.

John Peterson
Your Romantic American Correspondent

Hi , I had the "pleasure" of restoring an Oliver Whales Personality Love Meter a few years ago. It was found by me in a garden shed. It was just a door and in a very poor state. Someone had ruined the metal covering on the door by cleaning it with an angle grinder so I made a new case and gave it a rewire and ended up with a nice looking machine. I don't have it now but I wish I had never sold it

The love test machine I have in my collection at the moment is one of my own creation. I designed and built it on the lines of a vintage machine and to me it's better than the O.W. Love Meter because I made it myself but then I have always got more "pleasure" (it's that word again) from working on vintage machines than owning them.

I think these are both Myers machines.

Nice Love Tester, Stuart - looks very professional. Just wondered what the machine is next to it?

Jerry

Hi Jerry , Merry Christmas.
Thanks for your comments on my Love Tester - I am very pleased with the way it has turned out. I don't need to tell you about the amount of work required to design and build a full size machine that works ... but it helps to keep me Sane. I know this because I was talking to myself about it the other day.

The other machine in the photo is called "Snap-It". The lights behind the card symbols flash at random all the time and when you put a penny in the machine stops. If it stops on a pair, it pays out that amount. It's all 240v and you have to take care when the door is open and the machine is running as it's all live with lots of bits to touch. When I got it, it had not worked for a long time and was in quite a state but it made a good project for my idle hands.... lol! I have never seen another.... anybody got one?
Regards Stuart.

Stuart,

I think the original name of this game was "Zap It," before the company attorneys made them change it after three punters were electrocuted. Too much truth in advertising is sometimes bad for business.

john peterson

Hi John,
You could be right... but the punters will get more of a shock if it ever pays out on the 9d... as it don't happen that often...

THE NEW LOVE TEST

THE LOVE NEST

Just got these in this week.

Very loving. Well done, Jingle!!

Another Myers Love Test and another Oliver Whales Love Meter - with dual coin slot.
Looking a little unloved at the moment, but surely their day will come.

slotalot wrote:I have never seen another.... anybody got one?

I'm guessing this front is the machine you bought? I think it was on eBay.

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I acquired this with some machines and wondered if there was any info about it anywhere. I know nothing about it.
Is it supposed to have a back fitted?
I got a picture of one in the Forum but it had two handles on where, mine only has one.
Is it worth the restore?
Cheers.

No it's not worth restoring.
In fact it's so useless I suggest you drop it off at mine the next time you pop through Lincoln.

To make the visit worth your while send me a list of what you've got in your collection and I'll tick off the other "waste of time" machines you own ...

Haha nice one BP.
I can add a Marvel trade stimulator to the list because it's doing my head in.

If it's one of these (library photo) I already have one I restored years ago.
I think it's worth my mentioning that it works perfectly, because I am a smug bastard..

BP

You must have some patience then lol
Mine has been built and stripped I don't know how many times and I still can't get the reels to spin right.
Either one will spin or 2 but not all.
Also when it's in the case the handle runs out before it cranks

widget2k4 wrote:I know nothing about it.

It was made by Myers Automatics of London in the mid '30s.

widget2k4 wrote:Is it supposed to have a back fitted?

Usually pine, sometimes panelled like this one:

widget2k4 wrote:I got a picture of one in the Forum but it had two handles on where, mine only has one.

As you can see from the examples below there's considerable variation in design. Some with two handles, some with one, different shapes applied to the exterior of the cabinet (e.g. the 'wings' on yours which have apparently been drilled to wall mount the game). It's named variously Tele-Test, Tel-E-Test and Love Test

widget2k4 wrote:Is it worth the restore?

Not if you have something better to do...

Thanks mate
Great info there as always

Topic moved and merged - Site Admin.

Take a look at the photos for this fortune teller: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-old-p ... 2591b9e991

The picture of the back of the machine shows the proud statement that the game was restored 21-2-69.

Restored? More like semi-destroyed.

Here is a picture of the game in its original glory, together with the companion piece, "Love Meter Personalty." Both machines compliments of Oliver Whales.

J Peterson
LoveMaster in America

I have restored the cabinet of the Teletest machine but wondered if anyone had any good tips on getting the wood on the gameboard restored? It has white patches all over and I don't know of any way to get rid of them? Any tips?