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Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 12:23 pm
by coppinpr
I'm sure some will have, but I've never seen a slot running on a 1/2np. I was working in a cash business when decimalisation came in and on day one I was sent to the bank for the week's change. This included 2 bags of half NP. We never ever used those two bags. In fact, one bag was untouched when the 1/2np went out of service in 1984. I know we have seen this machine before and I believe this model Bally was made for cruise ships on 6d coins but I can't imagine it was ever a big earner on 1/2np. This one was later converted to take 1np and ended its working life on a south coast pier. The model name has certainly changed its meaning since it was made.

Re: Bally machine running on unusual coin

Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:03 pm
by malcymal
I have seen this once on a third party converted Sega Continental with very strange fruits on reels; in fact the guys still got it in his garage a mile up the road. Was asked if i wanted to buy an old bandit in his garage, didn't know the make, got all excited, went round and firstly it was a Continental which I would not touch with a barge pole. Secondly would never attempt to lift one again and third point, on new half pence coin. I had to do a double take, what???? half pence. Very disappointed. :NBG:

Re: Bally machine running on unusual coin

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 5:44 pm
by cheeky
The only arcade that I have every come across using the ‘new’ 1/2p was based at Margate. It was called the Sun Deck and had a huge number of vintage slot machines. I’d be interested to see a photo of the arcade from the inside if anyone has one.

Re: Bally machine running on unusual coin

Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 10:01 am
by brigham
That sounds like the famous (and fast becoming fabulous) 'Arcade at Margate', well known in these circles.

Re: Bally machine running on unusual coin

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 11:03 pm
by cheeky
Are we talking about the same one that closed in the '80s?

Re: Bally machine running on unusual coin

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 3:20 pm
by brigham
I don't know a lot about it.
I get it confused with the famous 'timewarp' arcade at Mablethorpe. I've not seen photos of either, although there is film of the interior of the Margate one.

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 11:41 pm
by cheeky
The film sounds interesting. Is it on youtube?

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2019 7:53 am
by brigham
Good question.
I saw it online...

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 2:47 pm
by cheeky
coppinpr wrote: Thu Jul 18, 2019 12:23 pm I'm sure some will have, but I've never seen a slot running on a 1/2np. I was working in a cash business when decimalisation came in and on day one I was sent to the bank for the week's change. This included 2 bags of half NP. We never ever used those two bags. In fact, one bag was untouched when the 1/2np went out of service in 1984.
The rosettes shown on the payout relate to a different Bally machine. It was a horse-racing theme. I can clearly remember the machine but for the life of me I can’t recall what it was called. I’m sure your machine was sited on the Sundeck.

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 3:58 pm
by aristomatic
I think the bally machine with the rosette reelstrip symbols you are thinking of with horse racing theme may have been called county/country fair? and think was maybe more showjumping than
horse racing?

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2020 7:28 pm
by cheeky
Yes. That’s the one. “County Fair”. 👍

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2020 10:09 pm
by pennymachines
The only County Fair I could find was a 1959 Bally Bingo pinball. Any pictures?

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 2:47 pm
by cheeky
No photos from me. It only took me about 10 years to find the Walton one. I’ll keep hunting. It would be good to set up a Bally Bandit list of U.K. machines. I reckon there would be quite a few we haven’t heard of and of course the many conversions.

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:29 am
by brigham
Is there a Bally enthusiast in the house?

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:52 pm
by quadibloc
I was shocked that when they decimalised, since they had a 1/2 p coin, why they couldn't have also had a 2 1/2 p coin, thus avoiding the need to demonetize the popular 6 d denomination, to which it would have been equivalent.

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 12:08 am
by treefrog
quadibloc wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:52 pm I was shocked that when they decimalised, since they had a 1/2 p coin, why they couldn't have also had a 2 1/2 p coin, thus avoiding the need to demonetize the popular 6 d denomination, to which it would have been equivalent.
The sixpence didn’t disappear in 1971, the year of decimalisation, but became the 2.5p coin until 1980, when it was discontinued. In fact many slot machine operators produced tokens, sixpence size, named 2.5p. It could not have a long future as the half penny went anyway and the 2p was too close to it.

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:56 am
by aristomatic
Supposedly, but I have no idea if true?

"Successive prime ministers and governments didn't want to be associated with the killing off of the nation's favourite lucky sixpence coin."

So stayed in circulation till Maggie Thatcher was briefed if she killed the tanner off, then the treasury stood to gain millions in melting them down... So alas, sixpence fate went the same way as the miners...

Here's a picture of one of my machines. Coin entry has options for sixpence (6d), as well as 5np & 10np.

A lot of machines had coin entry plates that were embossed with 5np and or 10np, but the majority of those also had 1 and 2 shilling embossed next to decimal options to help us through decimalisation.

However, this is the only one I've seen with not only decimalisation for the new 5p and 10p coins but also including sixpence as 6d & not as 2.5p. Sixpences were still used in parking meters till close to demise?

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:11 pm
by ballymad
brigham wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:29 am Is there a Bally enthusiast in the house?
I love Ballys and Bally only. I have a County Fair somewhere.

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:03 am
by brigham
Perhaps a Bally thread could be started.
I like the Phonographic 'Gold Award' conversions, but I also have a couple of Blue Stars, a Greaves 'Showman', a RIO and a couple of others.
'Sir Prize' and 'Bullseye' are on my want list.

Re: Bally Gay Cruise running on unusual coin

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:27 pm
by cheeky
brigham wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:03 am Perhaps a Bally thread could be started.
I like the Phonographic 'Gold Award' conversions, but I also have a couple of Blue Stars, a Greaves 'Showman', a RIO and a couple of others.
'Sir Prize' and 'Bullseye' are on my want list.
Like the idea Brigham but creating the thread is way beyond my pay grade. !SMARTY!