Bollands Oracle

[geofflove]

So this just arrived in the post today, having won an auction last week. I’m guessing some may recognise it. I know little about it or how original it is. The spandrels in the corner don’t look original and unbeknown to me it’s been converted to use 20p’s so not sure where it’s been in use. The plate on the side also looks like a lock plate but obviously isn’t as the lock is elsewhere so not sure what’s going on here or if it’s been recased at some point. It’s also looks very sharp so not sure it’s it’s repro or something?
Edit - I’ve just found a pic of a metal cased version which has the lock on the front and one of the plates around the lock. the case looks pretty original though so not sure what’s going on there.

It works as it should I think but there’s also a spring inside which isn’t doing anything. Any ideas what it did? Was it connected to the arms in some way?

It’s a pretty little thing though so any info anyone can shed would be great. Thanks !

[treefrog]

Funny, I was in the auction at Cheffins and handled this. My view was this had been modified as mentioned probably new case at least some of it and a few bits missing like the window surround. Looked the part though. I had assumed the four slots in the auction came from the same source as there was also a Brooklands racer there that sold for £1400, which was one that Jack at Junktion Antiques had for sale for many years, he was in the auction as well..

[geofflove]

Funny, I was in the auction at Cheffins and handled this. My view was this had been modified as mentioned probably new case at least some of it and a few bits missing like the window surround. Looked the part though. I had assumed the four slots in the auction came from the same source as there was also a Brooklands racer there that sold for £1400, which was one that Jack at Junktion Antiques had for sale for many years, he was in the auction as well..

Interesting. I wasn't there. I'd seen the sharps sweet vendor which went for much more than I was offering but didn't spot the Brooklands - not that I had space for it!

[treefrog]

Shows how crazy auctions are as the Brooklands sold more than it was advertised for 5 years in the antique store …….

[sentimental salvage]

Very different to an original mech on the inside.

[treefrog]

Yes see below a thread and pictures.

Bollands Oracle

3029A0BD-F99C-486A-90F7-D5B406936A3F.jpeg (73.63 KiB) Viewed 52988 times

19F2D935-BB30-4EF8-A7CF-72A9322B7A58.jpeg (42.51 KiB) Viewed 52988 times

Also one was in eBay a couple of weeks ago with a similar case to yours, but with a mechanism that is different. The lock plate is normally on the front on these machines. I’m sure I remember seeing a few of these plates over the years at collectors auctions

[geofflove]

Interestingly the locks are the same on this wooden one to mine. Same type and position. It's true that the lock plate is from a metal case one when the lock is on the front. But I don't think the case is a repro as looks identical to this one above.
The mech is different though. Confusing!