Matthewson (Automatic Sports Co.) games

bob · Post by **bob** » Tue Jun 28, 2016 2:11 pm

Here again is something illustrated that I've wondered about for years. Usually the machines outside on piers such as Mutoscopes, Matthewson Sport machines, the Try You Your Grip, Twist your Grip, Doughty and Barrett Racer, Avery and Salter weighing machines, Sweetmeats and other chocolate machines and the occasional lifters are all cast iron and thus weatherproof. And yet it is not unusual to see the wooden cabinet Roovers stamper name plate machines amongst them out in the open. Were these taken inside overnight or in inclement weather?

bryans fan · Post by **bryans fan** » Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:45 pm

I have often thought the same, all those lovely machines out in the rain! Especially at Ryde. They must have taken these in.

: Perhaps left some out?

Two fantastic images from Gameswat, thank you for sharing!
I hadn't realised the Racer came in a cast iron case, I've only seen wooden ones.

13rebel · Post by **13rebel** » Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:48 pm

I am glad you have asked that question Bob, as I have often wondered how pier machines coped with the weather. The cast iron machines may have been 'weatherproof' but would they have been entirely watertight? With the British weather apt to produce a sudden heavy shower or storm in summer I imagine the two player football machines for example to be swimming with water inside. Perhaps an attendant dashed out and covered them or they had strategically placed drain holes?

bob · Post by **bob** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 6:05 am

The British octagonal cast iron Mutoscopes, of which I've taken apart quite a few to strip and get sandblasted, were caulked (like a boat) with putty or some similar compound to make them as waterproof as possible. Not much water would have got in through coin entry and crank handle shaft hole as there do not have any drain holes in the bottom and they were not generally very rusty on the inside. But then the ones that I have worked on were all operated in Australia and would not have been located outside but in arcades.
Matthewson machine cabinets were not caulked but were tight fitting and the Yacht Race mechanism allowed for the moisture that these machines involved by having some parts (including coil springs) made of non ferrous metals (copper or brass).

clueless · Post by **clueless** » Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:20 pm

Topic moved & merged - Site Admin.

Hello,
I am a complete novice with no knowledge, so please be patient with me! I have been left a whole shed load of "treasures"

that belonged to a well loved elderly family member. In amongst this, we found this "two man football mechanism" . It is exactly as it shows in the picture, complete with hand knitted jerseys! It appears to work, the two gentlemen are still kicking! I was told the story of how he came to own this (many,many years ago), but he insisted that it was never in a metal case, but a wooden one? I would love this to be restored and admired again, it was always his intention to do so, but I have neither the time or skill to even consider it. Would it be of interest to anyone, even without it's case? Thank you for your time, any suggestions or information would be most welcome. ********still for sale*********

aristomatic · Post by **aristomatic** » Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:32 pm

Welcome clueless

This thread will probably run very quickly and long too I expect. Be prepared for numerous private messages too........

Be interesting to see pic of more of these machines. Just be wary if passing on location details until completely satisfied. There will be more experienced posters to help you identify machines.

Some may be very valuable so take your time if thinking of selling on!

GP

http://elephanthouseauctions.com/details.php?lot=867

ddstoys · Post by **ddstoys** » Mon Aug 21, 2017 2:55 am

What a beauty. I don't know any definite details but it's similar to a Chester Pollard Play Football machine, except they have a dozen men on the field.

Definitely a treasure you have there.

sweetmeats · Post by **sweetmeats** » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:34 pm

Your machine is a Matthewson Two Man Footballer, circa 1898. As well as being made in a cast iron case it was also available in a wooden case as a counter top machine. This is a very rare and valuable machine in an original case. I know of one that sold for over £5000. The mech alone would probably be worth around £3000. If you would like to e-mail me through this site I could let you have pictures of the case and may also be able to put you in touch with a cabinet maker who could make you a high quality case. I would suggest that you should think long and hard before parting with this much cherished family heirloom. Would you be able to share other items 'from the shed' with this site?

sweetmeats · Post by **sweetmeats** » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:42 pm

To add to the above: the picture of the machine from the Elephant House auction case is I think not original. The original had a removable front. I have somewhere a copy of the patent showing the complete wooden machine and will put it on this when I can find it!

bob · Post by **bob** » Wed Aug 23, 2017 7:00 am

The mechanism is indeed as Sweetmeats says from a Matthewson 2 Man Footballer. These came in cast iron cabinets such as the one illustrated that was in Australia (photo attached) and also wooden cabinets such as in the original patent and also shown in another photo of one that was brought to Australia by a British collector from England some years ago. This one has a tall cast iron marquee which would have been added in the UK some years after the machine was made. The cast iron stand on this machine however dates to about 1900. I have it in a reprint of a German coin op machine catalogue.

Other Matthewson 2 Man Footballer machines with cast iron cabinets had tall illustrated marquees like the other two attached photos.

Intriguingly, the same wooden marquee that is shown in the Matthewson mechanism patent of 1896 for this machine was the same design that was patented by Matthewson in his design patent of 1910 when he had already been making the cast iron cabinets and then the later tall marquees for some years.

This much later date is definitely not a mistake as can be seen by the much later design patent number (572441) of the 2 Man Footballer design patent, than the design patent number of the Cricket Match number 337195 of 1901 and the design patent number of the Mermaid Yacht Race number 339522 of 1902.