Interesting items in upcoming auction...

[youngerap]

I noticed the following items for sale by auction in early September.

Links deleted (Stable door, horse and bolted come to mind, but better late than never).

It looks like both might have bits missing.

[slotalot]

I like their Estimates: £100 - £150 put me down for a dozen of each !!!..

[treefrog]

Ooooh dear Youngerap,,,,,you have let the cat out of the bag, as I am sure although half of us have seen these, we all hope we are the only ones that have

Well now you have below are three in this auction and I would love the Billiards. The Mutoscope Electric Crane looks all there comparing to other pictures of these...No idea who the early American floor standing machine "Greyhound Racer" is made by, Caille or Mills maybe, but wonder if this was converted for the british market as I am sure it says 1D in the picture and the coin entry is large..seems to be missing the handle though. And lastly the Handan No Billiards, wow that looks good and no reference of this in Paul Braithwaites book, so maybe pretty rare....

Well see you all there on the 3rd, got me readies ready

[JC]

No idea who the early American floor standing machine "Greyhound Racer" is made by, Caille or Mills maybe.......

Caille produced a number of different 'Big Six' machines. Wouldn't bother me much who made it for £100 - £150.

[badpenny]

Damn and blast I was already writing my success story at acquiring these jewels.

See you there then

[youngerap]

I wonder if the greyhound racer could be an early Mills machine? It looks very similar to the Mills Chicago of 1900-1910 (as shown in the Morlacchi collection book).

[gameswat]

Watling

[badpenny]

This thread probably answers tazmantic's question about where we find our machines better than any of the answers we gave him.
In so much as nobody mentioned provincial house clearance auctions, which as Treefrog hinted at most of us keep an eye on but never mention.

As youngerap said "I am sure you would not expect the established collectors to volunteer their personal sources (would you?)."
And true to his word .... we didn't did we?
He then went on to prove he was a better man than we are by pointing out how to!

However I still stand by what I said in that I've fallen over more machines through telling everyone I meet what my hobby is, than I have any other way except of course for The Coventry Auction, the next one incidentally is Sunday November 24 ....... so it seems.

Please don't tell anyone though as we've gotten into the habit of enjoying a nice quiet day spent only with a handful of our best friends. We find this is a nice way of relaxing after several weeks hard work organising it.
Luckily the bargains we offer there can always be viewed again at the next Elephant House Auction as they snap up our bargains in order to stock their event and you only have to pay a higher commission.

BP (who lives a mere 20 mile hop, skip and a jump from Louth, however fully expects these items to go to an internet bidder for three times my budget ......... as per usual)

[treefrog]

Still nof offers of knowledge for the Billiards Handan Ni machine. Anyone seen one before? I went through the patents on this site and found more than 6 Billiards related machines, none Handan and none similar to this.

I may go alone as mentioned, but expect prices to be way beyond my capability, in fact add a zero and then multiple by 4.

[badpenny]

You're optimistic TF if you think you'll be alone after youngerap turned Queen's Evidence and then even our members in Orstralia discovered they can watch it live on't Webernet. You'll be surrounded if only in spirit.