B.M.Co were also responsible for the introduction of plastic backflashes, which would
become common (along with brightly printed paper) with allwin manufacturers after
WWII. Previously, velvet or some form of cloth, and in particular machine-turned steel
had been the norm.
The '30s was a difficult decade. Work was scarce, money was tight and B.M.Co
had more than it's fair share of financial difficulties. Indeed, it is unlikely the company
would have survived the decade without financial assistance, on more than one occasion,
from Fredrick Bolland. But as the decade drew to a close, and once again we faced war,
amusement machine manufacture had no priority. B.M.Co did not survive, and shortly
after the cessation of hostilities of the Second World War, Charles Featherstone retired
in 1946. But the path was now clear for a new bread of allwin manufacturers, who
would produce a plethora of machines throughout the 1950s, the diversity of which
could not previously have been imagined.
A small B.M.Co multi-cup allwin, 'little Wonder'. Picture courtesy Johnny Burley.
To be continued next month.
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