Having taken a leisurely stroll through the model village, the visitor passes through the
well stocked gift shop and encounters Peter's 'Old Time Penny Arcade'. With something
in the order of sixty machines, this is one of the larger collections on public display in the
country. On offer is a good selection of wall machines and larger arcade pieces, some of
which deserve a special mention here.
Peter is probably the only collector, and almost certainly the only operator to own
the full set of Ruffler & Walker two player race games. These consist: Grand National;
Grand Prix; Helicopter Race and the rarest: Cycle Race. R&W machines date back to the
1950s, and were the last in the line of two player race games. They are now almost as
sought after as the machines of earlier manufacturers such as Ahrens and Essex. Dating
back to the 1890s, although not unique to this country, I've always considered this genre
of game to be intrinsically British.
No penny arcade was ever complete without a crane, and Peter has two here. Not
content with a couple of Exhibit Supply cranes, Peter has two Mutoscope machines: the
much sought after Electric Travelling crane, and a very rare Treasure Hunt, thought to be
an earlier version of the former. Children today, and adults too, still marvel at the chance
to 'see it operate'!
The rarest of the Rufjler & Walker race games: Cycle Race
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