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Anyone see this one before?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321163413253?ss ... 1438.l2649

Heavy Art Deco styling so I'm guessing the '20s.

Anyone else?

J Peterson
American Gangster

Very nice John T I've never seen one before although I'd have thought "Little Accident" referred more to the title of the story shown than the name of the viewer wouldn't you?

I can't find reference in any of my comics and pop up books.
Although Mills made one also called "The Auto Stereoscope" it looks different unless it's a tabletop version ... even then?

It seems Mills made 583 different kinds of machine all called The Auto Stereoscope around that sort of time.

BP

It was made by Bolland's Amusement Machine Supply Co. Ltd. from 1937.
All mechanical, hand-cranked (not clockwork), with a limed oak finish, it's reasonably well known, although fewer seem to have survived than might be expected for such a "useful" and comparatively late travelling viewer. Automatic Pleasures shows a line drawing of the machine with a nice matching Deco stand.

The Brain Trust never fails! Nice work, lads.

That's no drawing PM - that's my wife! It's really a photograph of the machine not a drawing. And JP, maybe you need to visit me for a change...... One of the all time great deco machines as far as I'm concerned and a lot more interesting that 99% of the American stereo viewers. There is an earlier model too without the deco style that's a lot rarer but far less cool. The ebay example needs total refinishing to get back to the black and white limed original look, just as every other example I've yet seen did. And also yet to see a surviving stand so I made my own example using the advert for the info. A lot of work but well worth the trouble as completes the machine nicely. Would've preferred buying the stand from Bolland for a pound though.

Although Nic Costa's book was the first I bought, I hardly ever refer to it when researching. Guess I just like pretty pictures.

Gameswat I am so impressed with your photos I'm going to get up at four in the morning in future just so I can be impressed longer.

BP

Wow, BP, thanks! So you think I have what it takes to be a professional cameraman then?!

My friend you not only have the photographic skills but are in possession of all the models needed for my kind of Spam!

Edited because I didn't say spam I said Spam ahhhh I bet it's done it again ............what happens if I say pornographic?

badpenny wrote: Although Nic Costa's book was the first I bought, I hardly ever refer to it when researching. Guess I just like pretty pictures.

BP, it was my first arcade and gambling book too. But within 12 months it was memorised. And thinking about it now, have pretty much used it as a shopping list for my collecting the last 25 years! Could live with almost every machine in the damn thing. Anybody know what Nic is doing nowadays?

Gameswat, I'm shocked. That wallpapering is simply not up to the standards I've come to expect from you.

Fantastic job with the Stereoscope though. You didn't happen to keep your measurements for the stand did you? I'm not the only collector in the UK who's talked about getting one made... What did you use for the little Deco star-bursts? These pressings always seem to be damaged.

The Auto Stereoscope is also listed in Arcades & Slot Machines (but not pictured).

Gameswat wrote:Anybody know what Nic is doing nowadays?

Writing books on other subjects: Adam to Apophis, and to be published next year, The Thread - From Exodus to Jesus, In Search of the Amazons.

Rory you need some vintage bunting
To make the room look complete

pennymachines wrote:Gameswat, I'm shocked. That wallpapering is simply not up to the standards I've come to expect from you.

Didn't realise it was that bad PM......... This better??

HAhaha.

pennymachines wrote:Gameswat, I'm shocked. That wallpapering is simply not up to the standards I've come to expect from you.

PM, you see the plan was to have pulled this house down a long time ago so didn't bother with some of the complex reno like wallpaper etc. But after 9 years I'd had enough so one day snapped and started ripping that paper down. One thing led to another and I spent the next 5 weeks fully gutting and modernising the whole damn kitchen and dining!! So that's an old pic of machines from about 5 years ago and many machines have been and gone since then. Changes all the time.

pennymachines wrote:
Fantastic job with the Stereoscope though. You didn't happen to keep your measurements for the stand did you? I'm not the only collector in the UK who's talked about getting one made...

PM, I sent the plans to Coin-op many years ago as he was hoping to make the stand himself, but as of last year when visiting that hadn't happened yet! I can only find a couple of card templates the front and side arches and fitting the trims. He must have the rest so you'll need to ask him to borrow or copy them. It's a tricky job because of those four splayed legs.

What did you use for the little Deco star-bursts? These pressings always seem to be damaged.

I had those cast in solid brass at my foundry. Just fill the back of the pressing with plaster.

Gameswat wrote:
I sent the plans to Coin-op many years ago as he was hoping to make the stand himself, but as of last year when visiting that hadn't happened yet!

All I can say is that it's closer to the top of the project pile AND I can still lay my hands on the plans..which must count as a bit of an achievement in itself. At least I got the machine sorted.

Moved & merged - Site Admin.

On Sky TV, Pawn Stars UK, on Monday... Is this worth £1000??

I think that was quite bold, given they're not specialists in coin-op, they need to sell for a profit and the machine is incomplete and possibly re-cased. Still, they are rare. The much nicer US ebay one which opened this thread made $860. It would have done better in the UK, I'm sure.

Gameswat wrote:Didn't realise it was that bad PM......... This better??

Much. It has that authentic shabby '30s arcade feel.

Gameswat wrote:I had those cast in solid brass at my foundry. Just fill the back of the pressing with plaster.

There could be a market for them. I've yet to find one of these pressings which doesn't have broken tips.

For the record - this one finished on ebay, October 13th at £989.69.
Looked like a good example (although missing most of the aforementioned pressings).
It took me years to find one of these. Weird how three can turn up within three months.

There's an earlier model in what I think is a less interesting case. I've only seen one that sold on Aust eBay years ago and went back to the UK. Don't have any pics of it though.

It's back again, the original one that started this thread: http://www.ebay.com/itm/111598460413?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

It's been so long, I cannot remember whether or not it sold the first time around but it is the same machine.

J Peterson
Auto Rotating in America