1 bet it must have been real pain back in the sixties if you were in an arcade and put your
last tanner in this machine and the lights came on. You couldn't leave it for someone
else to collect could you?
So that's how it plays, how about the restoration? Pretty straightforward realJy.
Before I stripped it down I had to play with the payout fingers to figure out how it all
worked. Quite clever really, but a right temperamental swine to adjust and get working
correctly. So many levers and springs all interacting with each other, a real fiddley job.
A fair bit of cursing and swearing was also required before the thing would work - it
usually helps I find. Each time I thonght I'd cracked it and built the rest of the
mechanism up, then I'd find that the switch didn't operate or release at just the right
time, or it would stick half way, or it wouldn't pay out the ten tokens correctly. Each
time I'd have to remove the reel bundle and brakes to get there. I now claim the world
record for the fastest strip down of a reel bundle.
Apart form that, the biggest problems were that the light box had been broken off
and was in two pieces, and the lock to the back door was missing and the keyhole had
been mutilated. So some plates fixed inside the light box to hold it in shape again and
car body filler to fill in the cracks and it looks good, at least until I can get a replacement.
Similarly, a plate over the old key hole with a nice new round hole cut in it and a new
lock. The artwork was touched up on the lap top and reprinted, rmd we're back in
bnsiness. In keeping with the motoring theme, I've painted it British Racing Green, with
the usual centre white flash. I've rewired the lights, fitted new tubes and a 12v
transformer to light the chequered flags.
Yes, very pleased with it. I like these machines - I might be tempted to get another.
Richard Brewerto11
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