FORUM

I recently received an invitation to chat to Arthur Frederick Spencer Bolland, son of Arthur William Spencer Bolland (and nephew of Frederick Charles Bolland). He recalls, "each and every one of these models being made in my dad's workshop in Northampton". It occurred to me that other members of the Forum, some of whom are more knowledgable about Bolland's working models, might be glad of the chance to solve some mysteries.

I've created a Forum account for Arthur, and he should be available to answer questions after 14th Sept., so in the meantime, if you think of anything, please post it to this topic.

How very exciting! Off the top of my head;
there are some very obscure and later Clown Head case models that have appeared and I'd like to ask Arthur if these were 'one offs'?
Man on the Moon,
Old Mill,
The Attic
The Bloody Tower ( slim cabinet)
Frank-n-Stein ( slim cabinet)
and I'd love to know if they ever made two ( or more) of the same model specifically in the Clown Head cases, as they did with other multiple models?

I'd like to ask about the Witches Cave models as there are a few different versions with completely different scenes inside and why, as it doesn't seem to be a using up what props they had to hand for the Witches Caves, they are completely different?

I'd like to ask what Bolland considered to be their best performing model?

I'd like to ask about the 'one off' models made following a commission from an individual, as some of these models have never left the family they were made for?

I have an original photo presumably from the Bolland workshop showing a line of models with a clown head cabinet 'Love Test' in the line , and I'd love to know if Bolland made any more of these Love Test machines?

I like to ask about the volumes and numbers of models produced, and what determined how many of a particular type, and whether runs of the same model were produced at the same time? ( say making 4 x Burglars within the week).

I'd like to know who designed some of the more complex movements within the models, as its a lot more than just using the crane mech. For example the drunk man sitting on the gravestone in the Haunted Churchyard leans forward and turns his head right and left all within the same movement, but all that is achieved with a very clever and simple fixed hoop bracket with moving rod passing through it. Easy to make and copy, but very clever to design in the first place?

I'd like to ask about rivalry between working model manufacturers of the day, and who thought up the new themes for the models produced?

The 'Pharos' fortune teller models all had slightly different variations, and many differ on the castings. There are different faces of the pharoah and different front plate castings which must all have been more time consuming and cost more to do and it's very nice, but I wondered why they didn't have all the same?

I'd like to ask about the wide case clown head models (made from the converted kitchen cabinets), and approx what year these were made from and to?

How many Pharos were made and over what period?

How many "Hell's Kitchen" were produced and when?

20 seasons of it were filmed. It's all HERE
Then I think a combination of people getting fed up with Gordon Ramsay's language and attitude plus his own restaurant empire going bankrupt put paid to it.

moonriver wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:46 pm How very exciting! Off the top of my head;

Bloody hell! if that’s on top your head , what's inside it?
It’s a pity this knowledge could not be passed on in the form of a book, but it would be a labour of love, and not commercially viable.

I think a memoir from one of the Bolland family is an excellent idea

Another question please. Can Arthur confirm if they made the 'Wishiwell ' fortune teller we discussed on the forum, and was it a 'one off'?
Amongst other similarities to a Bolland machine, the rotating roll on the Wishiwell lists questions identical to their Pharos machine.

Is Arthur here yet?

He was here but I'm afraid he's set off on his travels again. I emailed him yesterday just to make sure he'd not forgotten us, and had read this topic and he replied, "some of the questions are a little daunting! ...I shall be in touch on my return."

splendid

You may have scared him into submission with the daunting list of questions, probably need another holiday after answering them all

I do hope not. Anything Arthur can recall will be a massive help to piece together information that would otherwise only be speculation.
It's rare to get the opportunity, and any insight he can give will be fantastic

pennymachines wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:03 pm He was here but I'm afraid he's set off on his travels again. I emailed him yesterday just to make sure he'd not forgotten us, and had read this topic and he replied, "some of the questions are a little daunting! ...I shall be in touch on my return."

Is he back from his travels yet?

I've sent him another email...

I had this reply from Arthur:

Arthur Bolland wrote:Some of the queries I really cannot answer – indeed I doubt anyone living can. For example “How many Miser, or Drunkard’s Dream etc were made”. I don’t know and I do not think that Dad or uncle Fred ever kept an accurate record.

The arrangement was that we (Mum, Dad and my brother and I) moved to Northampton from an arcade at 210 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 in about 1947 and immediately Dad started to convert crane cases into models. He would manufacture two every fortnight and Uncle Fred would travel down with two empty crane cases and swap them for two completed models.

Fred would do some small cosmetic alterations and he was in charge of selling them on to whoever wanted them. He operated from 49 Highshore Road, Peckham, London SE15 from a workshop at the end of his garden – although, of course, he had had a substantial business before the war operating from three arches at Loughborough Junction (Showrooms and Workshops). After the war Len Vass worked for Fred (he was the brother of Fred Vass who operated a substantial arcade at Broadstairs).

There is a book on working models – and Dad’s models are featured in one chapter – although I think the list in that tome is incomplete.

Arthur originally invited me to contact him by phone, but I suggested he should chat with one of our more knowledgeable resident working model experts. He said he'd be very happy to do so. I've PM'd his number to you, moonriver.

pennymachines wrote: ↑Thu Apr 28, 2022 6:25 pm I've PM'd his number to you, moonriver.

Thank you.
I've now made contact with Arthur and had a very long , enjoyable and fascinating initial conversation about all things 'Bolland'.
Arthur has kindly agreed to continue this process and has a remarkable memory for recalling all of those little details and queries we have wondered about, the manufacturing process and the products they used for so many of the iconic models Bolland made, many of which Arthur was personally involved in making, with a view to collating all of this otherwise lost knowledge and information for future reference here in Resources.

Hooray, Moonriver! Go for it!!

J Peterson
Non-working model, USA

That's excellent.