With its combination of Cupid's Telegraph and the Matrimonial Camera, this very early example of the genre fuses two 'magical' technologies of the age. Advances in telegraphy and photography brought them into widespread use by the late 19th century, which would appear to be the date of this machine, judging by the studio cameras depicted.

Very early card-vending fortune-teller by Meurice & Co. (who manufactured fortune cards for other makers), possibly made as a one-off. No documentation or other examples of this game have been found. The Argyle Automatic badge is believed to have been added at a later date. Books attributed to the cave-dwelling 16th century soothsayer of Knaresborough, Mother Shipton (Ursula Southeil), contained rhyming couplets similar to the machine's slogan: DROP IN YOUR PENNIES I WILL TELL YOU TRUE WHAT FORTUNE HAS IN STORE FOR YOU

Spinning dial type fortune teller, possibly a revamp of another machine. Two battery operated bulbs in the top corners light up when the handle is turned.

The first of a new, but short-lived, genre of robot-themed fortune tellers, Robot King incorporated a small printing device. Those who consulted him could see his predictions were custom produced for them, and the operator was saved the expense of ordering pre-printed cards. Dirty smudges transferred to other machines in the arcade from ink-wet hands was an unfortunate consequence.

Insert a penny and squeeze the handles together to see three bulbs illuminate revealing your romantic mood, lucky day of the week and sporting passion. Myers made several versions of these love tests in slightly different guises.

'Consultation fee 1d.' Uncle Sam's finger points to philosophical advice, personal traits and predictions as the weight of the penny causes the lithographed disc to spin.

This card-vending fortune teller was one of several which attempted to blind the public with science, like Brenner's Radio Analyst and Bradshaw's Green Ray. John Brenner, a German compatriot of Charles Ahrens, is credited with discovering the public appetite for such machines.