W.H Ell & Co. The Territorial Shooting Range

[treefrog]

W.H & Co. (William Henry Ell) of London penny arcade machine with its contemporary sign 'The Territorial Shooting Range' c1903.

You don’t see one of these early shooters very often

Description taken from the auctioneers site at Henry Aldridge and sold for £5000 excluding commission. Looks in fantastic condition, but suspect has been restored as back looks to have a new ply sheet. Top flash is nice, I wonder whether a later addition

[pennymachines]

A lovely game, a particularly good example and, as you say, they don't come up often.
The top sign looks right and matches other examples, although it's darker than the rest of the cabinet. Perhaps it's been detached for years and had less exposure to sunlight.
The top should be attached by two cast cherubs, but for some reason, these have been missing on most surviving examples. Is this because they were attractive, easily unscrewed and pocketable?

[arrgee]

What is the brass plate for with a slot in, located on the painted back-scene under the house? Is it for return of the ball bearings that are caught in the target housing?

[pennymachines]

Yes, the balls collect there showing how many you've used, and can be released for a replay by pulling the brass knob if you knock down the three white-necked bottles.

This isn't too difficult, with a bit of practice, as you have six shots. Sweetmeats recalls meeting an old gentleman who played this game as a kid, when it was operated on the beachside. He and his mate would play continuously for a ha’penny because they always won the replay.

There was also a version with coin return.

[13rebel]

As the balls that land behind the bottles are returned to use again I presume there is a drain somewhere in front of the bottles to return those balls to the start position?

[pennymachines]

Sorry, that off the top of my head description was inaccurate.

Here's how it actually works...

Balls fired into the shooting range go to the 'pool', as I said, but those that bounce off, or miss completely, are fed to the lost compartment via a channel at the bottom (just visible in TF's first picture).
All balls that go to the pool can be retrieved by pulling on the reset knob, so you usually get more than 6 shots for your money. If you succeed in knocking down the three white necked bottles, a lever flips which has the same effect as inserting a coin; balls from the lost compartment can be released and the bottles reset by pulling the knob again.

[13rebel]

Cor, thanks Mr PM , thanks for the game play and the mech with pointy things. It's almost as if you have one but not played it often. Fantastic item.