Bell-Fruit Manufacturing Co. bandits

American, British, French or German? We want to know about it.
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daveslot
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Bell-Fruit Manufacturing Co. bandits

Post by daveslot »

Does anybody out there know what the purpose of these were. The badge is the same as the one fitted to a 1960s Bell Fruit with a Churchill crown in a fitted case. Could they be a prize?
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badpenny
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Re: bell-fruit badge

Post by badpenny »

No idea Dave ................... however I recently saw one of those badges fetch a fiver, whilst a Churchill Crown is still only worth 5/-.
Throw the crown away and keep your sandwiches in the box. :idea:
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Bell Fruit Wild Cat bandit

Post by coin-op »

Topic merged - Site Admin.

Does anyone have any schematics or manual information for a Bell Fruit Wildcat bandit? A friend of mine is trying to restore one of these and needs some information. Failing this is anyone familiar with this machine?
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PSD
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Bell Fruit - Wildcat

Post by PSD »

Assuming it's the machine pictured.
Miss Jenny Lewis, the winner of Miss UK 1967 appears on the front glass
and the machine dates from 21/6/69.
Hope that's of some help to you :)
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Bell Fruit - Wildcat.
Bell Fruit - Wildcat.
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badpenny
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Re: Bell Fruit - Wildcat

Post by badpenny »

PSD wrote:Assuming it's the machine pictured.
Miss Jenny Lewis, the winner of Miss UK 1967 appears on the front glass

She came 4th didn't she? .................. hope that helps even more!!!! :twisted:
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PSD
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Re: Bell Fruit - Wildcat

Post by PSD »

I'm forced to disagree with you there, Badpenny!

according to my research she DID come first,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_United_Kingdom

In the same year, 1967, she came 5th (4th runner up) in the Miss World contest,
http://www.geocities.com/kingdomofmissw ... -1970.html

Accurate information always helps!!! :twisted:
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Re: Bell Fruit Wild Cat bandit

Post by badpenny »

PSD, you aim too low, :wink:
I was referring to the fact that she came fourth (runner up) in the Miss World competition :???:

Pennymachines I hope will always take pride in giving accurate information and advice, I do hope the confusion between us hasn't set back the restoration of this particular machine.

Whilst on the subject what's your view on the usefulness of Clicky Thingy :idea:
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Re: Bell Fruit - Wildcat

Post by PSD »

I was only going by what you said!!! :D
Badpenny wrote:She came 4th didn't she? .................. hope that helps even more!!!! :twisted:
fiendicus
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70s Bell Fruit

Post by fiendicus »

Topic merged - Site Admin.

Hello people, had this for a long time, now I feel I have to part with it...

Anyone tell me what model this is? It takes 2ps and has a £20 Jackpot :D

What would this type of machine usually sell for as I can't find anything about it on the Interweb?

Cheers,

Jack aka fiendicus.
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badpenny
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Re: Information Wanted!

Post by badpenny »

Hi Chap ..............

Most of the members of this site are interested in purely mechanical machines from the pre decimal period.

Which means pre 1971 and no electricity other than for lighting purposes only.

Good luck :wink:
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Re: Information Wanted!

Post by Guest »

OK, cool, thanks !SMILER!

If anyone is interested then please do get in touch, I won't keep it for much longer.

fiendicus@hotmail.com
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Re: Information Wanted!

Post by Guest »

Hi There

It is a conversion of a 1979 Bell Fruit Pussycat club machine. Bell fruit also made a Hotdog in the same cabinet.
I have a Hotdog in my lockup and it still gets played now and then.

In the current financial climate you would be lucky to get £30 for it!
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BELL FRUIT BANDIT - GOOD, BAD..or indifferent?

Post by malcymal »

Topic merged - Site Admin.

So, there are two of these on ebay, one quite close to me.
Item 130252987405

They are electro mechanical by the looks of it, as both on auction are telling the same tale, one not working at all. One not working on the 5 shilling token tube.

1) Right, firstly, are these easy to fix on the payout side e.g. (can a motor be replaced, remagnetised etc.)?
2) Looks like they have some sort of bonus play. I'm thinking then the coin acceptor is electronically controlled.
3) Do you think they look GOOD, BAD or indifferent?
I'm not too sure what to make of them. I like the chrome look to them, but really can't make my mind up if I like them or not.
4) Are they reliable or pants as the daughter says?

Thanks Guys and Gals (if there are any - do we have women coming on here, if not why not?)
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Re: BELL FRUIT BANDIT - GOOD, BAD..or indifferent?

Post by badpenny »

Hi ............. Strange machines these, I had one once a long time back. It was extremely heavy and made out of something denser than me!
I might be wrong but I thought mine was purely mechanical.

I wouldn't have valued one at more than a couple of hundred on a good day.

But each to his/her own.........
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Re: BELL FRUIT BANDIT - GOOD, BAD..or indifferent?

Post by malcymal »

Ah, can rely on you Mr Badpenny to reply... at least to break my solitary status of nobody posting. The ones on ebay are electric payouts and not in working order. I think I'm gonna stay clear as I favour my health and sanity... electricity stings.
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Re: BELL FRUIT BANDIT - GOOD, BAD..or indifferent?

Post by treefrog »

One of these sold on Ebay recently, as I'm sure you had observed.

I agree these are unusual machines. My first reaction to them has been on the positive side, as I do like chrome (I'm talking about slots :burp: ) and I love the handle. They look like they were built to last as well. The only thing that has put me off is that I thought they were all electro-mechanical. Only now reading this thread, this machine may well have been one of the rarer pure mechanical types... Also it looked like a matching stand, which I am always a sucker for... The question is, would I have paid the £386 it went for?

This could be one of those non-desisions to bid I may regret... Having said that, these machines look a lot larger than a standard desktop slot machine...
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malcymal
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Re: BELL FRUIT BANDIT - GOOD, BAD..or indifferent?

Post by malcymal »

If the chrome was immaculate then £350 doesn't surprise me as they are pretty rare to find in very good condition, so an OK deal. Think how much a rechrome would be on a Bell Fruit. They are never viable to buy as renovations as their chrome is normally shot. I have yet to find a Bell Fruit bandit that has reasonable chrome and a decent mirrored header glass. I'm not sure if I like or dislike the Bell Fruit's garish award layout, it's all higgledy-piggledy yet interesting.
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glass artwork

Post by glittering-prize67 »

Topic merged - Site Admin.

Hi everyone. I am currently restoring a 1971 Waterwheel fruit machine by Bell Fruit. Does anyone have a back glass for this or know where I can get screen printing repairs done. If you have the machine and this glass is OK, I will buy the whole machine,
Many thanks and a Happy New Year.
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Any info/Clues??

Post by toibs »

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Hi guys :)

Ok, so I have picked up this little beauty (see attachment) - I really like it due to the chrome (which seems in good condition other than the payout tray - no surprise there!!) and because it's a little different to the standard bandits. Has anyone any info or in fact anything about it they could tell me or send me at all please??

Thanks
Paul
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Last edited by toibs on Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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badpenny
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Re: Any info/Clues??

Post by badpenny »

I used to have one of those Paul. If I remember correctly it was marked Bell Fruit and weighed more than anything else I've ever asked my wife to lift.

The mech if I remember was significantly different in design to American 3 reelers. As they are so shiny shiny they are an impressive looking thing and don't command a lot of money.
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