Shipping Bell Fruit Cascade from UK to Canada

[cait001]

For this particular item, the Cascade, they are extremely delicate and I would personally have issues of even sending it in carriage within the UK and rather request cash on collection.

Can I ask for details on how delicate Cascade is?
I know the metal bits are all loose, but if someone took the glass off and wrapped them separately, and same with the glass itself, is there any other part that is delicate? Is the chasis a lot more flimsy than it looks?
I've never encountered one in person.

Perhaps I'll need someone to babysit a Cascade on their lap when they fly to Canada from the UK. ;)

[pennymachines]

It's a solid wood (teak?) dovetailed frame with ply front and back, so not exceptionally fragile. The glass is the main issue, although the graphics on it could be replicated on a new piece, if it came to it. The glass is also what prevents all the trips from falling out.

[malcymal]

I think the point in question is that will somebody ship it to you from the UK to Canada? For reasons I've explained, I would not ship such an item outside the UK nor would I courier it within the UK. It's explained too (and heard this story before in a post some years back) that if the glass breaks you will have a nightmare refitting the trips. This doesn't mean that somebody else wouldn't post but i think you've got to be realistic, although I admire your passion, in your aim to get such an item sent to you as the onus is on the seller to ensure it gets to you; could you say to seller, "look, I know the risks, I will BACS you the money direct to your bank and it's down to me the buyer if its smashed to bits". Another thing I thought about were customs charges too or legalities of it if inspected via a dip check at port of entry in Canada? I did some googling and came across the following. (source CanadaOne).

There are no provisions in Canada Customs guidelines that prohibit you from importing a slot machine. But, once it gets here, you won't be able to use it.

Here's why. Slot machines are not listed in the Canada Customs prohibited importations tariff items guidelines. Duncan Smith, a program support officer within Canada Customs, advised that the actual importation of slot machines – working condition or otherwise – is not prohibited by customs. But the use of a working slot machine on a premises without a provincial gaming license is an offence under the criminal code for an illegal gaming house. It is not the item that is prohibited, but the use of that item.

Smith said that if you want the slot machine for decorative purposes (such as placement in a recreation room), it has to be de-activated so that you are not charged under the Criminal Code of Canada (section) for operating an illegal gaming house.

We also spoke to OPP Inspector Larry Moodie of the Ontario Illegal Gaming Enforcement Unit who advised that it is against the Criminal Code of Canada for individuals to import, sell, buy or manufacture slot machines. Please see section 202.1B of the Code.

202. (1) Every one commits an offence who
(b) imports, makes, buys, sells, rents, leases, hires or keeps, exhibits, employs or knowingly allows to be kept, exhibited or employed in any place under his control any device or apparatus for the purpose of recording or registering bets or selling a pool, or any machine or device for gambling or betting;

[cait001]

heh, definitely not worried about customs giving me issues for it.
These are not considered slot machines by any definition within Canada. I ran through this when bringing an Japanese arrangeball machine in to the country.

is it really hard to redo the metal mechs if you take them out and package them separately? It all seems pretty simple.
Good to know the cabinet is sturdy enough.

And yeah, in the end I would be looking for someone to do a custom packing job, and if the glass ends up smashed, c'est la vie. My risk, my loss, and yeah I'd look for a reproduction then.
I imagine if the glass was removed, wrapped, and placed up against the back of the machine in shipping (on the outside, rear of the machine) it would be rather sturdy and have a decent chance of survival.

Anyways, thanks for running through these logistical hypotheticals with me everyone.

[cait001]

that if the glass breaks you will have a nightmare refitting the trips.

Ahh I missed this part of your post initially, apologies. I guess I don't know what I'm doing then because the trips look all fairly basic to me, I don't get why they would be so difficult.

[badpenny]

Re-installing the trips is not hard it's just one of those Goddam' Awful jobs!!!!
Especially if you're home is prone to sudden gusts of gravity.

I seem to remember laying on my back between two dining chairs that were supporting the front and glass above me. Offering the playfield upwards using both hands to keep it level I used another hand to realign the coin trigger and my spare hand to move the coin entry over. Having got that lot controlled I reached behind me to get the bracing strap and held each end of it over the two threaded bolts while I hunted for the two wing nuts so I could tightened them up equally.
Otherwise it was a doddle.

BP

[pennymachines]

As BP indicates, putting them back in place is straightforward once you know the pattern, but keeping them there as you manoeuvre the playfield up against the glass is another matter. It's a skill which improves with practice and which all Cascade owners must master, as occasional coin jams are inevitable.

[andy d]

I seem to remember laying on my back between two dining chairs that were supporting the front and glass above me. Offering the playfield upwards using both hands to keep it level I used another hand to realign the coin trigger and my spare hand to move the coin entry over. Having got that lot controlled I reached behind me to get the bracing strap and held each end of it over the two threaded bolts while I hunted for the two wing nuts so I could tightened them up equally.
Otherwise it was a doddle.

BP

Ah, is this why this particular machine is favored by octopuses?

[geordy55]

Looks like this one has now sold on ebay.

[special when lit]

If the glass did break, it would be straightforward to replace it with a flat piece of glass cut to the right size, but obviously it wouldn't have any graphics, like its German ancestors.