an early machine, as the ball runways on Wonders machines are generally routed into
the backboard and covered with a flat sheet of tin plate (in common with other post war
makers - Oliver Whales, Parkers etc. However, putting aside the BMCo/Wonders
connections, there is one piece of evidence which (in my view) conclusively points to
Coinacig being a Wonders machine, and that is the payout crank. This long, slender
crank is only found on Wonders allwins - none other, either pre or post war; it is unique
to Wonders machines.
Robert says he has been told that his machine was manufactured by a company
called Wandautomatt. Now, I don't know whether this is true or if someone in the past
has just made it up - it could just be a bit of slottie folk law (I do have serious doubts
that it was made in 1940). But let's break down the word ..... Wand auto matt.. .. It's not
far off from Wondermatics, is it? So could this be Wonders first ever machine? Before
they thought of the name Wondermatics? Before they thought of a coin entry in the
form of ld? Before they thought of stamping a ' W' on the trigger backplate? Perhaps
we'll never know, but if anyone has any further ideas or has any info, do please let me
know.
Jerry
Left, the BMCo coin chute on Robert 's machine.
Right, the payout crank, unique to Wonders al/wins.
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