Hitler Skee Penny

[pennymachines]

Posted by PennyMachines on behalf of H.B.

Hi all,
I've had this machine kicking around for some time, and would like to restore it.
I have the front, and a lot of the 3 slide payout assembly, but have no idea what
the cabinet looks like. Has anyone got a photo of a similar model - I'm sure they're
not all Hitler - from which I can build the rest?
I would be delighted if anyone has any information. I'm not trying to sell it, just restore it.
I guess it is British because all the coin chutes and the mechanism for knocking
the coins in are for old pennies. Thanks for your help,
H.B.

[badpenny]

I only know one thing regarding this one: -

He only had one ball!

[pennymachines]

But here we have 3 Hitlers and no balls!

I can't trace any of the patent numbers, nor can I read what it says on the right hand panel.
According to P Braithwaite the Skee Penny was made in 1931 by Invicta (1931) Ltd. from their works at 10a Adelphi Terrace, Strand, London WC2. It was also sold from these premises by J Miller & Son. Evidently, the Hitler theme came later, probably to make an already old machine topical when there was a dearth of new games.

Invicta also made the Automatic Cigarette (as yet unfound 1930s patent 27070) which seems to have been previously made as the City Wonder by Apex Automatic Machine Co. It's coin propelling mechanism and three targets look very similar to the Skee Penny. Which raises the question - did those three framed windows below originally have cigarettes behind them? Could it be they were blanked out when war rationing made cigarettes scarce?

[neo]

Common as muck them ones.
I'll give you 20 notes (inc vat & delivery) to take it off your hands

[daveslot]

I seem to remember a similar one at one of Steve Hunt's auctions. Perhaps somebody might have taken a pic of it.