Essex Football & Ahrens Great Polo Game identified

[geofflove]

I’m trying to ID these two football/polo games. They are in a right state and not been viewed in person but I'm tempted to take a look.

It looks like originally the players kicked individually maybe? Could look really pretty if sorted but doesn’t anyone know in info about the game? Maker? Prob is I don’t know how much mech is present and without even knowing what it’s meant to look like sorting it might be an impossible challenge. There are two though so that doubles the odds of finding the parts to make one!

Any info gratefully received!

[treefrog]

I wonder if it is an Essex football machine looking at controls, but don’t think they did a Polo...

If cheap, snap up, even if just for parts… Lotta work there.

[pennymachines]

I believe TF is right.
Major, but very interesting, project.

[jingle]

Wou oh d be happy to buy a spares one if going
Here’s mine
Bob

Images removed by request - Site Admin. - See Museum

[treefrog]

Jingle,

That is the best looking 2 player game ever.


I reckon the Polo is an Ahrens machine looking at the controls… Why don’t machines like this fall on my lap?

[jingle]

They don’t fall on your lap Tom you have to go find them

[coppinpr]

They don’t fall on your lap Tom you have to go find them

Now that's unfair, Tom spends so much time on the road looking at machines he has been classified as "of no fixed abode".

[geofflove]

Thanks for the help guys. Nice to see what it should look like - I think! If I manage to strike a deal I'll post some more pics and I'm sure, seeking more advice.

[geofflove]

Ok so I may have just transported a heap of rust halfway across the country…
Couldn’t get the ponies but got the football. The casing is well beyond repair, but I have all the ‘hole surrounds’ etc. The rest of the case is going to the tip sadly.
The mech is in a pretty bad way too and well rusted and seized. Not sure if it’s freeable or not. Some of the players are broken off although I do have some of the bits.
I don’t even really know how it’s meant to work.
I’m now trying to decide what to do with it.
I’m sure the footballers and field would look nice painted up but I’d love them to DO something, IF I can get the mech in the top bit freed off, could I build a tabletop case around the playfield and get the playing a little bit?

Anyone got some suggestions?!

What’s the best way of freeing the rusty steel rods and bits from the alloy it sits in without smashing it all? It's all a bit sad really.

Hellllllllp!

[treefrog]

Looks like you got the cabinet panels for both machines. Would they not sell the Polo?

The frame looks good and if seized, a combination of a good soak in a solvent and maybe use of heat could help free parts, just not at the same time.

I remember the Spicer football game a couple of years ago which has a rotten cabinet and someone shared pictures of it restored and looked fabulous… A good steel fabricator could pull one together.