BM Co. Fleet Air Arm, Bomber Command, D-Day etc.

[coin-op]

In a recent thread in the auction section on rare Oliver Whales WW11 allwins
( viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1926 ), Gameswat made the comment that the BM Co Air Fleet allwin is not particularly rare. As if to prove the point, a fellow collector in the south west has just discovered this example of the machine. Note the artwork is different from the example shown in the Oliver Whales thread.

[pennymachines]

What is rare, is to find one with the original metal name-plate top casting, like the manual payout example below.
Gameswat mentioned there are four versions of these war-themed allwins. I think I've seen three, not counting the Win-A-Cig below, but don't remember the names (probably because they're usually missing).

[gameswat]

Cool marquee! I've only seen one other example with a top sign which I think was a Steve Hunt advert wanting BMCo machines or parts. I've looked in my meagre collection of his old mags but can't find it? Pretty sure it was a Bomber Command. I've seen mention of a D-Day too. Attached pic of my machine though I don't believe this one ever had a marquee as I can't remember seeing any filled holes.

[pennymachines]

Fleet Air Arm, Bomber Command and D-Day. Yes, those are the three I know of but couldn't remember by name (until you reminded me).

I don't believe this one ever had a marquee as I can't remember seeing any filled holes.

I think you'd only spot them if you were looking for them - just two very small filled holes towards the front edge of the top. Couldn't have been very secure - maybe why most marquees are missing.

Funny you should mention Steve Hunt's machine. I can't find the picture either, but if memory serves me right, it was the most original example I've seen. Unusually, it still operated on a battery (I think this is how they all were before being upped to 240v). I found it a joy to play, with its straightforward layout; rewarding ding of the bell and automatic payout when you won. I think the target disc flashed as well...

For the record, the plaque on the second example I posted reads: Supplied by Chicago Automatic Supply Company, 11 - 15 St. Georges Road, London S. E. 1.
Yours says: W. West, Automatic Machine Maker, Bannerdale Road, Sheffield. (Edited to correct address).

[gameswat]

I'm pretty sure I've seen another different playfield artwork as well as these three. I've also seen a couple of different cabinet configurations, there was one on eBay several years ago. Though looking through my photos, which are all over the place because of computer rebuilds etc., can't seem to find any of these variations. A friend of mine owns mine now so when I deliver a few more pieces he's just bought I'll check the roof for the filled holes. Though I'm usually quick to spot any tell tales of former add-ons. When I found this machine the badge was covering the payout hole.

[gameswat]

Well in fact there's four variations shown in the pics on this page! I imagine the red painted version on the top of the page with the bombs below the winning slots would be called Bomber Command. I guess since the artwork is quite similiar on the Fleet Air Arm and on my version that they were both called that. And probably the tank vesion is D-Day. There still could be another wartime theme but I can't remember if it's one shown on this page or not........getting old! And I'm certain I've seen at least two more cabinet styles to the ones shown here.

[gameswat]

I found a pic on my hardrive I had of the tank artwork and it's the exact same photo as here, found on somebody's website in 2005 when I was researching these things. The door is made differently with thinner side wood. My cabinet had used recycled wood because there was an odd routered cut running inside the rhd side panel. There was also one on UK eBay a few years ago with different artwork to mine that had a very tall unusual cabinet style.

[coin-op]

Here's a picture of the machine I posted at the top of this thread and which has now been restored by its owner. He believes that the machine is known as 'Bomber Command'.

[pennymachines]

It looks a whole lot nicer now the red paint has gone.

I notice the mechanism had the original large bell but no solenoid to strike it. I wonder if your friend found a suitable replacement for that.
Posted below is a mechanism with bell missing but solenoids in place.

The one I'm restoring (bottom image) was missing both bell and bell solenoid. Fortunately I've found a bell, but now I need the solenoid. I'm not sure quite what I'm looking for. The payout solenoid on mine doesn't appear to be original. If I return it to battery power, I wonder what voltage the solenoids need to be.

[slotalot]

Hi Dave, the solenoid and bell look like they may be ex-pinball units??? they normally work on about 25volts, I am sure you could get one to run on say 12 volts, but the battery would not last very long before it needed changing, the photo is taken from my Gottlieb world fair pinball, I hope this has helped