Middlehurst Coronet

American, British, French or German? We want to know about it.
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treefrog
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by treefrog »

It's a shame they never made the cabinets in a nice oak, but nice machine, would definitely grab one if they ever turned up, in the UK that is.

I notice the use of the crown symbol is used by a number of manufacturers. I think there was a machine called the Crown and also seeing Stuart's article in the MMM mag about the Rex Rotor - very interesting machine, again with the Crown emblem. I am surprised the use of wheel spoke reels was never copied. Must be a lot stronger than the cheap tin types. I guess the word "cheap" is the reason why.
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gameswat
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by gameswat »

Treefrog, this Coronet Design might be of interest. Uncovered it along with a handful of other poker machine designs 20 years ago trolling through old books and then microfiche at the Perth Patent Office. Went in looking for one specific vending machine I'd purchased and came out 6 hours later with a treasure trove of information. Got the machine I was after plus a bunch of unknown info on many others, many surviving but also some as yet undiscovered machines.
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treefrog
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by treefrog »

Thank you for posting that. I wonder if this was the machine used for the patent, I notice the lack of paint striping or scallop shape also no award badges.

I think the serial number on mine is on the award and is MW1823..

Paint colour is growing on me with the flat Matt black and deep red. Almost has a Gotham city batman look to it, maybe that was the intention given the shape. Has original cash tray just missing a lock which secured into the side. Also unusual "iron cross" style logo embossed into the handle. !!THUMBSX2!!
Last edited by treefrog on Wed Nov 29, 2017 9:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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gameswat
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by gameswat »

Andy has said he was told only two were ever made, but I find that hard to believe since they went to the expense of Registering this design to protect themselves in the tiny market of Aust. And the production quality is quite high for a supposed prototype. Andy's Coronet mech is handmade but that doesn't necessarily make it a prototype. As thinking about it all the local built mechs I've seen 1930s into the mid 1950s have been handmade, as you can plainly see things like vice teeth marks where steel plates has been bent.

Pretty sure the printed MW 1823 was the phone or telex number, a unique serial would have been stamped separately to the rest of the printing but this matches perfectly. The Patent machine shown has no "Bonus 20 Coins" cast lettering next to the reel windows like yours, or marbled Laminex, unless that was a later addition to what were all originally wooden cases? The Bonus 20 Coins castings could be a later addition too of course. The Ladwig book machine doesn't have Laminex but maybe that one was stripped off by a later restorer?
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treefrog
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by treefrog »

Yes, you're right about the MW number - it is a local code in Sydney from the 1950s...
I will await Andy's feedback on the serial number location unless I find something before then.

One other small note, comparing this machine to the Ludwig and Andy's machine is that the top award, instead of being the usual Ace, used the Coronet crown logo with the words 'Coronet' through the middle on the strips and award.
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by pennymachines »

OK - I finally got around to putting my little collection of Australian poker machine pictures in the Arena. I also took the opportunity to collect just about everything I've seen on the history of these games plus what we've gleaned from Forum members (Bob, Andydotp, Gameswat, TreeFrog and others). I also thought Bob's Wineasy pics deserved their own page:
Pokies From Down Under
Wineasies From Down Under
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treefrog
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by treefrog »

!!THUMBSX2!! **xXx** !!YIPPEE!!

Thanks PM,

Need to now hunt down a Clubman !!UHOH!!
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by pennymachines »

Apart from the Aristocrat trade image, that picture of a Clubman in the gallery is the only one I've seen. Rarer than a Coronet apparently and, in my view, more attractive than a Clubmaster.
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gameswat
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by gameswat »

One of the 1960's Coronets is currently for sale over here. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-Cor ... ines&rt=nc
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coronet 2.jpg
coronet.jpg
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treefrog
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by treefrog »

Mmmmmm, yum yum....if it were half the money I would consider is, but at £850 plus the same again for shipping, a bit much for a machine needing work :#:
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gameswat
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by gameswat »

Been there a while so why not make the guy an offer? This is the only Coronet of any kind I've ever seen come up for sale in Aust before, and don't know of any in collections here except for Andy's. Not my bag though I quite like these reel strips.
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by coppinpr »

would it really cost that much to ship? why so much? I regularly import much larger shipments from China (280kg ,2.5 CBM) for £450 right to my door,I also have speedway rider friends who ship their bikes home to Aus in the winter for around $300 per bike, Im not doubting the cost just cant understand why :!?!:
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badpenny
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by badpenny »

Well, it seems there is yet another one out there!

Coronet.png

I have been contacted by someone whose identity I must keep secret, so I shall call him Nevil …… which of course isn't his real name, his real name is Andydotp (of this Parish)


I can safely say without fear of contraception that I shall have one some day, and when I do I'll downsize my collection to just a few bandits. !SMARTY!

For the sake of security I have promised not to give away its location let alone that it's in Melbourne.

BP
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by pennymachines »

!!HAPPY!! It does look good in green!
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treefrog
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by treefrog »

!!THUMBSX2!! Well done Andy. There had to be more out there, just judging by the serial numbers, same with all the other variants.... hopefully we will see more pictures soon
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by andydotp »

'My contact' who discovered the whereabouts of this latest one suggests/confirms its owner is a very private person and does not want his location or any details sharing. Fair enough, lets respect his wishes but by golly it was a surprise in the old Coronet story to now know at least five were made.
AP.
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gameswat
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by gameswat »

That's a high survival rate for any Australian machine so I'd guess the production was actually rather large. Dick Beuschel had figured approx a 3 to 5% survival on most coin-ops. And I have to say that has always seemed right on from my experiences. And when you consider the illegality of gambling machines in Australia over the years that has helped keep the numbers even lower than other countries like Britain and the US.
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treefrog
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by treefrog »

Andy, where is the 5 one.....based on serial numbers as previously mentioned I reckon you're right on numbers, so I am sure there will be more hidden out there as with most machines.....
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by andydotp »

I don't know tf, but I know the person who told me and also of the owner of the now known No4 just displayed both know who it was sold on to.

An interesting fact I learnt today was that "several" were trialed in NSW clubs but the returns were poor due to the reel strip layout being far too liberal. I can attest to this as I've rarely come out losing when playing mine. Apparently new payout combinations were introduced and more than likely for the next generation/different models.

So, where's Ladwig's? Where did the Goldfarb/tf one come from and how to find the whereabouts of the number 5?
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Re: Middlehurst Coronet

Post by andydotp »

The discovery of this green one which was literally walking distance from my flat, plus the fact I'd actually spoken once donkey's years ago to the person in question who was extremely not/none-forthcoming still floors me.
I know two people here now in Upsidedownland who have had dealings with said person and both have his confidence.
I'd love to meet a fellow Coronet owner and compare/discuss our machines - though unless tf fancies a trip down under or the above-mentioned person grants me an audience I guess it'll never happen?

When I migrated here BTW I caught a smoking flight (passengers, not the plane) the day before the ban came in and I told all my family & friends I wouldn't, return to Britain until someone invented an outdoor smoking area on jumbo jets. Am still waiting - it could be a winner!

Oh, tf, please can you reconfirm yours' serial number please?
Ta,
A.P
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