Canova Drunkard's Dream identified

[moonriver]

It's a LOT more Canova than the model passed off as a Canova recently.
At least Cliff Mills' tacky additions are easy to spot and can be removed and replaced with more authentic figures.
The artwork and backgrounds are good, typical long running sequence. Black light scan also sifts out all those added bits and bobs.
All in all it could be brought back from the dead very nicely

[max123]

Extra images available in zip file to save bandwidth - Site Admin.

[slotalot]

Extra images available in zip file to save bandwidth - Site Admin.

I love the zip file of photos, I will be in the shed if anyone needs me.

[max123]

Is it possible to say that Canova produced only 1 such model?

[slotalot]

Is it possible to say that Canova produced only 1 such model?

A little potted history of Vincent Canova, 36 Banbury Street Birmingham.

As early as 1899 he was involved with coin operated amusement machines. Around that time he produced as many as 200 coin operated viewer machines. He was at this time in partnership with a chap called William Thompson. The machines were sent out to many parts of the country and proved very popular, until complaints were made under the obscenities act, and the pair dragged through the courts for the same. Thompson went on to run the Thompson Coin Operating Company.

Canova was also responsible for a good number of patents relating to Taxi Cab meters and improvements to coin operated equipment.

By 1921, and still working from the Banbury Street address, he was listed as a Model Maker. Presumably your model was made at this address. Sadly, as yet I have been unable to find any records of the number of machines he produced, but the search continues.

The newspaper clipping is from 1899.

[pennymachines]

I love the zip file of photos, I will be in the shed if anyone needs me.

Well, there's enough there for someone with your skills to make something special.

Is it possible to say that Canova produced only 1 such model?

Based upon my chat with sweetmeats, we suspect the one he saw photographed in Cliff Mill's workshop is another example. He's sending scans of the pictures which I'll put up when they arrive.

Your machine appears to be the Blackpool example shown in Darren's book. This was in the Edwardian Seaside Fun Arcade at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. An auction of these machines was advertised for 30th September 2007, but for unknown reasons was cancelled. In 2011, forum member jingle gave an account of how he tried to buy the collection: Blackpool Auction.

Unfortunately, the images, which I believe were on their website are no longer online.

[jingle]

Hi Dave
I can’t remember wether that canova was in the collection that the guy I knew had purchased , I do have pics somewhere
Prob on a old phone it was 10 years ago now
But he took nr all of them to Paris for a show and promised me them when he came bsvk but most got sold at the show
And I heard some later came back as no money came from one of the buyers.
Whether this was in there.
I know rudy from belguim got some coz I went over and bought the Dennison air wardens dream off him.
I can’t remember him having the canova
But it was years ago

[badpenny]

Slotastuart ...

Your ability to get to the bottom of all things historical is, err ... historical.
Do you think his move to start the "Thompson Con Operating Company" was perhaps a step too close to the truth?

I was responsible for that typo after capitalizing the name - Site Admin.

[pennymachines]

I can’t remember wether that canova was in the collection that the guy I knew had purchased...

You mentioned the Drunkard's Dream in your post. I believe the fellow you dealt with was famous designer Andrew Martin. Would be cool if you could track down those pics.

[moonriver]

For what it's worth I think it's the same model.
The white flex additions I see strewn about inside this model is typical BPB handiwork , the same white flex appears throughout both the Clutching Hands and the Air Wardens Dream, all of which were at BPB at the same time with the same engineers working on them. If you look closely there are also coin controls micro switches present in the model which would have been standard BPB arcade stock items for fruit machines and coin mechs, as is the second hand fruit machine power supply in the bottom of the model, a giveaway as BPB always used those, even in their Bolland Pharos.
The machines were originally acquired by Geoffrey Thompson and displayed and operated in the BPB arcades, they were finally all brought together into his Edwardian Fun arcade on the ramp opposite the River Caves. Some ended up in their Ripleys Believe it or Not franchise until recently.
Following his death and his daughter Amanda's control, she had zero interest in coin op collecting which led to the auction arrangements. The auction was cancelled because she was persuaded to loan the machines to her designer friend for his exhibition in Paris.
He had no idea there would be more interest in the working models than his exhibition, and he called her and said people here are going crazy to buy them, do you want to sell? She agreed, some were sold there for 3000 Euro, those not, brought back to the UK and stored, then sold on.