Clown
Around 1905, newly founded German company Jentzsch & Meerz introduced the Clown game, based upon, and licensed under the patents of British pioneer JG Pessers' ball catching games. It was such a terrific success, British manufacturers returned the compliment by copying it, which they felt free to do after the outbreak of WWI. So did the French. This early British example by Handan Ni is distinguished by, amongst other things, the absence of a rolling ball beneath the clown, a different ball lifting mechanism, and the use of composite (in place of steel) balls. |
Handan Ni 1915
Laughing Sailor
This machine is similar to the famous "Laughing Sal" that jiggled and laughed at so many of our now defunct amusement parks. Jolly Jack came as either an English Sailor or the rarer English "Bobby". After dropping a penny in the slot, a cam would lower a tone arm on to a 78 RPM record with a laugh track recorded on it, while Jack had a laughing fit (the speaker hidden in the door behind a metal plate). Four other cams were responsible for making Jack rock back and forth , and side to side, which also made his eyes roll around in his head. |
Modern Enterprises 1950s
Fascination
The top section is in fact only a selector, a small window in the award card section seems to be the result of a predetermined wheel, much like a "stock broker". The award card says 'amusement only' as the results are predetermined and "you can't gamble on a certainty". |
SS Automatic Machine Co 1937
Prospector
This is one of several designs of the Prospector produced over many years by Pugh Automatics. The object is to roll pennies between the gaps in the continuous moving conveyor so that they halt and are carried by the belt to the payout points, whereupon the indicated prizes are received in the payout cup below. |
Pugh Automatics 1960s
Electrodart
Press the button and watch the arrow progress around the dartboard. Release the button when it reaches a high score for a payout. Unlike real darts, skill was not a factor as the machine was final arbiter of where the arrow stopped. |
Jamieson 1960s
Roulette
Gameplay on these oak-cased flashers was straightforward: Insert a penny; press and hold the metal button and watch the lights flash, the object being to stop the lights on winning symbols by releasing it at just the right moment.
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Jamieson 1960s
Bingola
One of a series of oak-cased 'flashers' made utilizing an abundant supply of cheap rotary relays made available as the General Post Office upgraded telephone switchgear.
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Jamieson 1960s
Slick
There are three challenges: First steer the ball down a see saw towards the gap in the first switch box; then try to catch it in the fingers; and finally, push the knob to drop it over the third switch box. There are 5 balls for 1d, and achieving a score of at least 9 returns your penny. The score dial and coin return are activated electro-mechanically. |
North Autos 1945
Defiant
This giant allwin is a sister machine to the standard-sized Spitfire. It probably had a framed-mirror top sign originally. |
Oliver Whales 1930s
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