Coin operated fortune teller on ebay

[pennymachines]

To reassure you further, I've placed your machine in the Fortune Teller category of the Museum.
What size card does it take?

[djjfive]

Thank you very much. That is greatly appreciated. When I learned there was a fake going around, I was concerned but I’m very relived to have the original:-)

I do have one card that fits which I believe to be from a palmestry machine that was also made by the same company at the time. The card measures 5.3cm by 3.3cm and is printed on fairly thick card.
I have included pictures. If anyone knows what would have been printed on the original ‘Mother Shipton’ cards perhaps a reproduction could be made. Many thanks.

[sweetmeats]

The fortune teller you recently bought was from a friend of mine and I have known this machine for 25 years. He had a very substantial collection started more than 40 years ago but sold most of it in 2000. I believe this was the last machine he kept. It is most likely to be made around 1900. Maurice were known for printing cards. They may have also made machines but this has the look of "a one off" machine probably for use in a public house. The Argyle name on the top is for a maker of fortune teller machines f a more substantial construction usually polished wood with printed glass or silvered card. They produced cards and machines from around 1900 to about 1920 and most likely brought out Maurice around 1900. The card you illustrate is from around 1930 and is nothing to do with either company. I will post some pictures of some originals soon but need assistance of my son to do so. When you bought this machine I understand you were given my phone number to contact about cards. I have not heard from you?

Regards the fake machine from Deal - this was resold at the Elephant House auction of 15/2/2015 for a hammer price of £90. Still about £70 too much in my opinion.

[djjfive]

Thank you so much for your reply. You are 100% correct, the dealer did have a very large collection that he'd sold in 2000, which was reassuring that this was the original. I just wanted to clear this up as another dealer looked at a picture of the machine and was unsure if it was the fake or not. I was fairly sure it was genuine.
I was given your number by the dealer however on the way back I had somehow lost this in the van I'd hired before I'd had a chance to save it. I will try and send you a private message with my number and would very much appreciate it if the cards could be made or if originals can be found? Many thanks:-)

[pennymachines]

I've updated the Museum entry to reflect Sweetmeats' observations and have tentatively attributed it to Meurice & Co. because their name appears on the large plate, lower front of the game. Is this enamel? I've also put the entry under your username djjfive, in case you wish to edit it or add more information.

[djjfive]

This is correct. I have included a close up of the manufacturers name at the bottom. I was unsure of the maker as the plate above is from a different company but with this new information it is all falling into place now.

[djjfive]

The large plate at the bottom is behind glass, my best guess from the look of it is it's made from wood.

[sweetmeats]

My son is now home from work and can now add the fortune telling cards The first three are all Meurice and all late 1890s. They came with an old fortune teller with 6 drawers. I believe a picture is in the museum. If not, I will add it. It has a picture of Victorian postman and the second picture, and was made by Fuller of London. I brought it from Christies in London 20 years ago (where does the time go!) It contained about 150 Victorian cards, including about 50 Meurice cards in sets of ten. I have never seen a single card since. The sizes are 72 x 48mm.

The only other Meurice cards I have seen are a set of ten love letter cards for which very similar ones are also known by Argyle, supporting the idea that they took over J. Meurice's business.

The following pictures are Argyle mother Shipton style cards that may have been used in your machine. The silvered card is from a set of ten. I have seen all ten but only have six. The next two are folders: the red one is the only one I have seen; the green one I have a small number of. They both measure 70 x 60mm closed. Should anyone reading this have any cards early and/or unusual and interested in swapping please contact me.

[djjfive]

Thank you very much for that. That is fantastic if you ever want to sell these please do keep me in mind. Or alternatively, if you wouldn't mind reproductions being made then feel free to get in touch and we could perhaps come to a deal on that? I would love to be able to fill the machine with the original style of these cards. Many thanks:-)

[jimmycowman]

Nice fortune teller on eBay at the moment. £5000