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In 1963, the Penny Pusher, first of a completely new breed of slot machine, appeared in British arcades. Wheel A Win by Crompton Amusement Machines Ltd., of Ramsgate, echoed the name of Streets' penny rolling Wheel 'Em In, but more closely resembled Walton's Rotary Merchandiser. Simpler in concept than either, it required no technical breakthrough - the mystery is that it was so late to the party. Its large floor-standing cabinet had stations for eight players to roll coins onto a table. Rotating sweeper arms pushed accumulated coins off the edges to the players, or down losing holes in the table. Expecting a one-season wonder, Crompton filed no patent. In its improved 1964 guise as Penny Falls it was widely copied and, together with the one arm bandit and the crane, has survived the test of time. It is one of the few British games to export successfully to America. |
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Countertop and wall mounted pushers enjoyed a brief vogue in arcades just before British coinage went decimal. This model has a single slot and coin platform. |
