Vintage amusement arcades currently open in the UK

ballymad(not in) · Post by **ballymad(not in)** » Fri May 29, 2009 1:33 pm

Hi all, thought I'd post in Open Forum since it hasn't been used for ages.
Because I'm in Portsmouth dockyard I stopped by the souvenir shop this morning and they had three old machines inside and wondered if any of you remembered them.
The first is a Laughing Sailor, 20p, not sure of the age.
The second is called Death to a Traitor, where the flyers tell the story of an arsonist in the dockyard who supported the American revolution and is hanged. The machine then stages a hanging in the bottom doors which open to reveal a gallows and the little figure drops through the trap door.
The third machine is a grab machine which it states is 70 years old.
Now I did take some photos and a video but the sun was shining so brightly through the doors it was reflecting on the glass. If you like, I could try again next week when it's not so bright.
Will try and post the ones I took but I don't think the quality will be that great.

badpenny · Post by **badpenny** » Fri May 29, 2009 3:05 pm

Thanks for that, piccies would be nice. Were there price tags?.......... or did they resemble telephone numbers?

ballymad again · Post by **ballymad again** » Fri May 29, 2009 7:08 pm

No, these are in use. Here are some photos. Have I got to be logged in to load photos?
OK if someone wants to talk me through uploading photos I will give it a go

will · Post by **will** » Sat May 30, 2009 9:47 am

They are Clive's machines.

malcymal · Post by **malcymal** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:24 pm

I saw two of these machines at Weymouth last Thursday in Dorset (the Brewers Quay). The crane machine had the badge "this machine is 70 years old" on it and had been converted to modern money. I saw the hanging machine too. I put my quid in the crane and won a whole wealth of sweets for 7 plays. I remember playing on same machine as a kid with my dad and we used to shake the machine when the claw went in to embed on more goods. Nice to play a crane machine that actually grabs, unlike this modern rubbish today (it had a gauge on it showing Rear, Middle, Front so you could aim it then turn the knob to go left of right). Fantastic bit of kit. I've seen the machines you mentioned too at Portsmouth Navy Docks, they are in the cafe/gift shop.

pennymachines · Post by **pennymachines** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:53 pm

ballymad wrote:OK if someone wants to talk me through uploading photos I will give it a go

Here you go: How to Upload Images.

Kay · Post by **Kay** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:14 pm

Hi everyone, new user here. In searching for help with a problem I came across this thread. I was in Pompey last year and have been in the cafe/shop numerous times but can't say I remember the grab, but the other 2 are still there in working order. I even feed the machine for the benefit of some youngsters looking on (myself really but gave me an excuse!) Always wanted a laughing sailor (in the glass case!) but can't say I've ever seen one for sale. I can get a pic on if anyone is interested, I'll call my lad to take one, he's based there at the moment. One the subject of glass cased laughing models, is the clown still at Mablethorpe, the one that has a nail holding the plate to his hand, if so I'll take the grandkids to see him, (well we had to put up with him as kids

)

Regards

rippyspennyarcade · Post by **rippyspennyarcade** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:20 pm

Hi Kay, Sorry to report but the laughing clown you mention is no longer around! As I remember, it stood at the front entrance of FUNLAND. When the arcade changed hands, the current owner sold it on.

Kay · Post by **Kay** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:58 pm

Hi,
I wouldn't have minded buying him for my porch! Last time I went was about 7 years back and he was at the rear of the arcade near the archery? and kiddies car circuit if I remember correctly. A shame he's gone after so long.

Regards

Kay · Post by **Kay** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:04 pm

Pics of the Pompey Dockyard machines, the Grab machine is still there but as I thought it was gone I didn't 'order' a pic of it so will get one later.