Aristocrat Clubman & Clubmaster

[badpenny]

Somewhere in the back files of this site I am on record as saying something along the lines ......... "I firmly believe waffle waffle that the Clubmaster pompous pompous dribble is the finest looking humpf humpf......"

I'd like to thank everyone, who at the time didn't respond by saying....
"Shut up you pontificating pillock, you obviously know sweet sod all about Ozzie Pokies, haven't you seen the earlier Clubman in all of its guises?"

Guess what I wan't now? Immediately after the Coronet which I still firmly believe waffle waffle is the most pompous pompous dribble finest looking humpf humpf ?

[andydotp]

Well Badpenny,
I rang the chap last week who I bought it off years ago coz we agreed he'd always have first & last option if I were to put it on the market. Sure, he'd love it back but isn't in the financial position.
I definitely don't want to part with it but when times must........
Perhaps I should put it on UK ebay? See what true & genuine collectors feel?
Regards,
Andy.

[badpenny]

Well you could do that Andy, but I read very recently somewhere that selling items through an ebay auction is now considered old hat and really not the thing to do. The new way is to just use it as a shop window, invite questions through your advertised phone number then close it just before it ends. A positive advantage to one and all I hear.

is actually quite clever and works very well for both sellers and buyers... the 'clue' as someone here quite rightly pointed out, was his addition of a telephone number for people to call and make offers 'before' the end of the auction, the seller then being in a prime position to accept the highest bid and make second offers as necessary...

....that although perhaps irritating from a strictly ebayer's pov somewhat tired of being fecked about by both sides, it's actually pretty smart from a 'genuine' sellers and buyers pov

However I am a silver haired old fart who knows nothing and constantly needs others to put me right so how about initially you just humour this daft old fart and PM me with the figure that the previous owner decided was beyond him.
No need to worry, the gas oven is far too cluttered and filthy for me to get my doddery old head in.

A phottie on the thread would be lovely and would also rub tubes of salt into the already festering open wounds that I once called ambition.

[andydotp]

First off I have to stand corrected. As Pennymachines said, 1953 Clubman was the first Ainsworth machine so pardon my stupidity.
'New Clubman' of '54 was next then the 'Clubmasters' and 'Aristocrat'.... Thousands were made yet so few have survived..

See Badpenny, I'll go out on a limb here, (can someone make an emoticon for that?) - you're definitely not the only one on this forum with 'buffonic tendancies'
And stop puttin' yerself down man.... you're an integral part of this whole scene and I for one look forward to your posts - as I'm sure most do!

Not sure about using ebay as a shop front...reckon I'd be a bit pee'd off if a seller pulled an item I was ahead on. Then again, that's how I bought my 1910 Mills Ops Bell - I rang the guy in America, and we did the deal live on line..

Laters,
Andy.

[badpenny]

Did somebody say?

limb.gif (4.02 KiB) Viewed 3926 times

[andydotp]

Hilarious, nice work..
Cheers,
Andy.

[bob]

Post split & merged - Site Admin.

I finally got around to looking at the material that Mr Pennymachines has put together on Australian pokies (see links above). It's an absolutely fantastic collection of material and includes much that I had never seen before and illustrations of and information about Australian pokies that I never even knew existed. Thank you Mr Pennymachines, it's a fantastic resource to have.

I am attaching a photo that I have of an Ainsworth Aristocrat Clubman and some early Ainsworth Design patents which show that the two Clubman machines illustrated in the Ainsworth section of the Australian pokies feature as Clubman 1953 and Clubman 1954 are in the wrong order ie the sequence is 33,556, 33,722, 37,259 as shown below. I think that these design patents were originally found by Gameswat who was kind enough to pass on a copy to me.

Also to add to Mr Pennymachines photos of Clubman machines, here's a photo of another one also, an unrestored one.

[bob]

On reading some of the material in Mr Pennymachines Pokies from Down under section I followed a link at the top of the Ainsworth section: Former Sil-Ora Dental Products factory - PDF This provides a link to a Sydney City Council PDF Document concerning the premises of the Ainsworth Aristocrat factory. Halfway down the PDF Document is a section that includes the following information: “On the night of 19 November 1954, a home-made bomb containing sticks of gelignite ignited electrically was thrown onto the roof of Sil-ora Dental Products at Birmingham Street. The bomb only partly exploded according to newspaper reports of the time, causing major damage to the roof. The proprietor then valued the factory and contents at £70,000 (SMH, 20 Nov 1952, p 1).”

This reminded me of the story behind this incident that I was told when I was in Sydney in the early eighties searching for leads on coin op machines. I was told of a man who had a small tobacconists shop in a Sydney suburb who may have some pokies or trade stimulators. He had been connected to the industry in its early days and I spent some time yarning to him whilst he told me some stories of the colourful characters involved in the industry. Amongst these was the story behind this incident. This was at the time in the early fifties when Ainsworth was starting production of the early Aristocrat Clubman machines.

Some of the people that were importing or manufacturing poker machines did not want this upstart rival taking business away from them and so plotted a way to eliminate this competition. The plan was to place two bombs with detonating mechanisms on the roof of the Ainsworth factory in order to destroy the competition before they really got under way with manufacturing the Aristocrat Clubman machines in quantity.

A bomb with a timer detonating mechanism was to blast a hole in the roof of the Ainsworth factory. A second bomb would then drop through this hole and another timer would detonate it and this bomb would destroy the contents of the factory consisting of finished poker machines as well as all the manufacturing equipment.

For whatever reason the first bomb did not detonate and when the second bomb went off it destroyed the roof and shattered every window for “miles around” but did not harm the contents of the factory itself. No further attempt was made as security at the Ainsworth factory was enhanced after this incident. Thus Ainsworth’s whole history may have been very different if that first detonator mechanism had worked as intended.

[youngerap]

Blimey. Who would have thought it: Organised Crime in Paradise. Well, half-organised, at least!

[treefrog]

Great story Bob and gives us some idea of what cut throat times there were back in the '50s and '60s and the criminal element involved in gambling, who of course ran in in US, UK and obviously Aus.

I remember having a long chat with an old slot machine engineer long retired and working in London for the various gangs who had underground clubs and venues where high payout machines were based. He mentioned many occasions having to move machines due to not just the law, but rival group threats.

[pennymachines]

Thank you Mr Pennymachines, it's a fantastic resource to have.

And thank you Bob for your comments and great contributions again. I've added the MK2 Coronet posted by Gameswat to the Pokies Gallery, changed the dates on the two Clubman machines on the Ainsworth page and added the design paperwork.

Before reading your post I'd decided that the fancier Clubman in the Gallery had to be later because it makes the others look a bit crude and dull by comparison and has more in common with the later Clubmaster. Adding your photos to the little flyer images and the photo I'd previously found, it's apparent that the Clubman evolved through 'machine without a name' to Clubman, New Clubman, flashier MK2 Clubman Aristocrat, before being superseded by the Clubmaster.

[aristomatic]

Mods feel free to move as it's not about the Coronet. Moved - Site Admin.

There are Clubmaster with and without the bridges in the casting as part of the reel glass window. Are those without these sections later cost saving versions formed from different mould or an other reason?

Sega made Hitop versions with and without these bridge features.

[treefrog]

I noticed the machine marked as Clubman MKII has no name other than Aristocrat on it and seems to differ a lot from the Clubmaster and Clubman. Also the patents this machine was submitted by Thomas Lavelle from Luna Park and not by Ainsworth at his factory. Is it an assumption this is in fact a second generation Clubman and I am sure someone mentioned previously there was a machine called the Aristocrat. Anyway it is my favourite of the three.

Aristomatic, my assumption the reel posts are earlier machines, as with Mills and Sega Hi Tops. As to why they dropped them, maybe cleaner modern look and easier to see the reels as these machines pre date back lighting.

[pennymachines]

Anyway it is my favourite of the three.

Mine too. I'm coming to the same conclusion - the Aristocrat model would surely carry a Clubman badge if that was its moniker. I think the various sources that identify it as a Clubman may be mistaken.
Arcade-history.com has it as the Clubman of 1953, "Ainsworth's first gaming machine... manufactured in Rosebery in 1953 initially at the rate of 2 a week", and lists the earlier bandit as New Clubman of 1954. Arcade-museum.com also lists a Five Way Special of 1953 but without images or further detail.

I've now adjoined this topic to our previous Clubman/Clubmaster discussion in which andydotp said:

Actually there was a machine prior to the ClubMan - called The Aristocrat which prompted Ainsworth Dental Supplies to change its company name to Aristocrat.

But as Bob said, the documents show the true chronology is (as we suspected, based on appearance alone):
Design 33,556 - Clubman, 1954
Design 33,722 - Aristocrat, 1955
Design 37,259 - Clubmaster, 1958

This does not rule out the often-stated claim that the first Clubman was built in 1953.

Arcade-history.com lists Clubmaster as 1956 and Clubmaster Deluxe as 1958. Anyone know the difference between these models?

[treefrog]

Arcade-history.com lists Clubmaster as 1956 and Clubmaster Deluxe as 1958. Anyone know the difference between these models?

Not sure, but there is something in my head that the Deluxe may have been chrome plated as I am sure I have seen at least two of this type, but as usual could be talking rollicks.....

Thomas Lavelle appears to have been Ainsworth main Sales person maybe based in Luna Park area and was said to have come forward with the Aristocrat name for the company.

[treefrog]

A forum member posted a PM question to me with some help on his Clubmaster and was concerned based on a post redacted in this thread that it was not PC to talk about Aristocrats.....now although some would always want that to be the case....it has occurred to me how easy it is to put off potentially keen coin op fans posting with in fighting between sad old members on here. So put my hands up I am a c#ck and instead of replying in a PM will do so here so everyone can see me eat humble pie.....(not posted their ID as they may not want it)

Subject: Aristocrat Clubman & Clubmaster

edited this post due to moderator advise that the same thing had been mentioned twice in 5 years. Will promise not to post any single thing relating to Australian machines again, write 500 times

HI Treefrog,

Havent been on the forum for sometime and I remember from a year or so ago and also this post of yours about a rule not to discuss Aussie machines?

I'm just after a few pics of the inside of a clubmaste for restoration purposes, if you can help?
I need to see the inside with out the mechanism to see how the handle retrun works and is hooked up.
Also what the barrel locks on the middle and coin tray lock onto, if that makes any sense?

Sorry if this isn't the best way to ask, just wasn't sure on the rules?

So I answer to your question on handle, see picture below.....

In terms of locks, Aristocrat use Australian locks by Lockwood. Never been able to trace them and assume disappeared or taken over years ago and often replaced. A good replacement is the longer version of the Lowe and Fletcher locker lock with a 22mm barrel and 15mm diameters, still made and around £10 to £12 each.....if you can’t find in Aus will send link, I know there is a supplier in eBay in U.K. and many locksmiths..

Lockwood original

L&F replacement

I apologise for earlier posts and please do join in the fun....

[gameswat]

Aristocrat use Australian locks by Lockwood. Never been able to trace them and assume disappeared or taken over years ago and often replaced.

Lockwood well and truly still running and a huge Aussie company! Here those locks are like weeds and everywhere. I've taken heaps of them out of old lockers and desk drawers etc being thrown away.

[treefrog]

Yes, I think I knew the brand was still there, but was unsure if taken over as they have another brand Abbloy along side them.....

Trouble is most manufacturers do not make the older style locks, although Yale and Union still produce ranges once used on slot machines. Lockwood do not seem to do the locker style anymore. If you get loads of them, I hope you grab them, if they have keys

Also the other issue is it is staggering how expensive new locks are, when people gripe about paying money. Eg Yale till style furniture locks often used in Allwins are around £60+ retail new....

[drphat]

Thank you very much Treefrog!

The handle mech design is different, see my pic, mine seems to have an extra few linkages plus the device hanging from the top of the cabinet.

Appreciate the lock pics as that has cleared it up. This has barrel (cam) locks but do not lock onto anything. And I couldn't work out why there were two lugs either side!

If I can't get them here, I would really appreciate the link to buy in the UK.

Thank you so much, and the last pic is my version of your Starlite!!

[treefrog]

Lovely Starlite and the no so common matching stand, looks fantastic condition

I do have another Clubmaster, but in storage, but fairly certain it will be the same as the one I have already. Not sure on yours, looks like the attachments should be linked to the part attached at the top of the cabinet, almost like there should be a pump there. But I thought Aristocrat introduced the pumps after the Sheerline/Starlite style of machine. There needs to be some kind of spring return as well. I know there are a few other Clubmaster owners on here who maybe able to check.

The lock is a dead lock and just engages over the lip of the door as per pictures....I hope whoever fitted the cam lock on yours did not drill the hole bigger, which I am suspecting may have been done as they are larger than these locker style locks. Both locks should be same size.....funnily after I posted this, someone stuck one on eBay on a buy it now for £5.....problem from here will be postage. Maybe Gameswat may be able to advise if they are plentiful down there...