Another conversion on ebay, what the eck is that?

[malcymal]

Another conversion on ebay, what the 'eck is that?
Item 320355881096

[JC]

I've seen a couple of these in the past. No idea who was responsible for the conversion, but this particular one has a Mills 10 stop mech., which probably dates back to the late twenties.

[operator bell]

The style looks a lot like the Beromat conversions we were talking about a few weeks ago.

[malcymal]

Yes, it does look like a Beromat style of converting the case. What's the mech worth on its own?? Suppose it would be all right for spares. Be interesting to see what it goes for.

[pennymachines]

I'd say it's closer to the Aristocrat Sheerline style (see pic). There's one more or less identical (apart from the "deluxe" badge) at this website which supplies film, TV and theatre props:: http://www.marinegrafics.com/props/cresta.htm
Description: "CRESTA DELUXE, circa 1955. A wacky machine made to sell in England. Put together from the guts of old Mills gooseneck machines and a few newer parts. Has Formica sides. Weird and wonderful, surely there is a movie set where the Cresta might make an aesthetic contribution."

The four reel Mills Special (c.1961) is a similar mystery. Made by Ainsworth, presumably "Mills" was adopted as the model name as a crafty way to add prestige to their product. Mills Novelty wouldn't object if the company was no longer trading.

[operator bell]

You may well be right, Mr PennyMachines, and thanks for that bit of Aristocrat history - that must be how they got started. But there's something awfully English looking about the Cresta, down to the name itself, which looks as if it was made to go on the back of some forgotten model of car. If I were a gambling man I'd say the person who made the Cresta probably had a Sheerline to copy.

[malcymal]

I actually remember in the 70's Cresta being a soda drink, with a bear that used to say "Its frothy man" And boy was it frothy as it had milk in it. It was a great drink until somebody got poisoned by it, as dairy does go off somewhat after time. In my village we used to have The Cresta Cafe too.

[pennymachines]

Ah yes, of course - It's Frothy, Man!

[malcymal]

Awesome advert, nice work !!! Blackcurrent was my favourite flavour too.

[arrgee]

Operator Bell wrote

which looks as if it was made to go on the back of some forgotten model of car

You are so right OB, the Vauxhall Cresta was a classic English car of the 1950's and 60's modelled on the bodywork designs of US swept wing and body styling. As soon as I saw the chrome name-plate I remembered this car. The person who converted this machine must have loved his Cresta (and his formica covered kitchen cupboard) as the name plate is actually from a Vauxhall Cresta of the 1960's (see pics)

Come on chaps, what else from the car industry can we adorn our machines with ?

[malcymal]

Car badges as makes for machine, ah, my first car was a Vauxhall Viva 1275 SL from 1967. I suppose I could have a Viva Bandit, or Viva 'Las Vegas' bandit even?? I wouldn't use a Ford badge, why were early Fords named after gentlemen's' top shelf magazines, Fiesta, Escort..... I was really disappointed that Ford never made a Ford Razzle.... But if they did, a Razzle badge on a slot would be quite cool.

[pennymachines]

There's a weird vertical wall-mounted penny pusher called Razzle Dazzle (a name you also see on modern bandits). When I find the picture, I'll post it.

Ah, I found it - but it's called Tipple Topple, which kind of makes more sense, I guess.
Senior moment there.

[malcymal]

Interesting slot, how does the game play work??

[badpenny]

I can remember losing on one of those

[slotalot]

Ah, I found it - but it's called Tipple Topple, which kind of makes more sense, I guess.
Senior moment there.

Anyone got one of these
Anyone know how it works is it some sort of reverse pusher

[badpenny]

Ah, I found it - but it's called Tipple Topple, which kind of makes more sense, I guess.
Senior moment there.

Anyone got one of these
Anyone know how it works is it some sort of reverse pusher

.......... don't think so .... that would make it a puller wouldn't it?

[pennymachines]

You drop pennies in from the left and right slots and they feed into the space at the bottom of the coin field. Reciprocating metal pins push them up into the field and sprung claws prevent them from dropping back. The gap between the glass and playfield is narrow enough to prevent coins from riding over each other, so the result is a penny pusher without the coin stacking. That means you don't get any massive payouts - normally about three coins maximum. These fall off the upper edge of the field in front of some illuminated mirror tiles. Those that drop off the far ends of the top edge are lost to the machine.
The coin entries, you may notice, are identical to those of the metal front Duchess bandits and this is also metal fronted, suggesting it may have been made by the same company.

[operator bell]

This is a classic operator's machine! Jeez... Adding one penny to the bottom row only causes a displacement of 1/10 of a penny at the top, and since only 7 or 8 pennies line up with the top slot the absolute maximum win is only 7 or 8 for 10.... That's assuming the sides go all the way to the top. There are probably adjustable side fences. If these are set low, the pennies will preferentially roll off the sides and none will ever make it over the top.

I'm surprised the lottery people haven't revived this design. The odds seem appropriate.

[treefrog]

Thought I would add another 1950’s car derived name for the same type of British bandit using a 1957 Vauxhall Victor Super badge.....how many cars were used in the coin op industry or at least their names and badges.....

Interesting there was a British Pram manufacturer called Allwin, that has some nice badges and names on their prams, maybe not as sexy to use on your coinop machine

[daveslot]

What about a Capri?
Can't get the image the right way up. *Flipped - Site admin.