Arcade Britannia - A Social History of the British Amusement Arcade

[daleman]

In response to your post re Nic Costa Archive: It's coming at last after 7 years buried on Nic Costa's computer his new book covering the earliest years of coin operated machines- if you like to learn about people being beaten up and threatened, machines smashed, murder, paedophiles being caught, bigamists, and lies being told in court in order to protect members of the royal family then this is the book for you! It turns coin machine history on its head. Publication due by the end of February. Will keep you informed.

[arrgee]

It turns coin machine history on its head. Publication due by the end of February

That all sounds very interesting, thanks for keeping everyone informed daleman.

[pennymachines]

Yes, that does sound interesting and an aspect of British amusement machine history we've rarely discussed here. No doubt you'll cover the infamous, so-called One-armed bandit murder and the media coverage and controversy around the court judgements in that case.

[daleman]

The book only covers the period to 1893, so no bandits...but maybe you could do it?

[pennymachines]

Ah... OK. I did start collecting resources to post about it here some years ago, but it would require some work to fairly represent all aspects of the case. Also I think some of the contemporary documentary and media coverage of it may no longer be online.