I posed this very question to the members of the erudite internet site,
Pennymachines.co.uk. It ran in the form of a survey, asking for a vote. Was I a goat or
a genius? Slightly over half voted 'genius' and the rest ' goat' or 'not sure.' In other
words, an even split. In addition to questioning the distance required to collect the
machine, the main reservations were with the unknown condition of the mechanism, if
there even was a mechanism.
The short answer is yes; there is a mechanism. The longer answer is that parts of
the mechanism are missing. The missing parts are crucial to the proper operation of
the game. In addition to the missing parts, coloured cardboard inserts are glued to each
of the three spinning panels on either side. The cardboard sticks out far enough to
impede any possibility of the panels spinning. There is no way that this machine
operated in its present state. Someone along the custodial chain was completely
wrong; Granddad, grandson, seller, ... someone. I am not saying that the game was
deliberately misrepresented but the information presented in the ad was incorrect to a
major degree.
When I agreed to the seller's price of $750, I went under the assumption that the
game was not working (contrary to the Ebay hype) and that there would be parts
missing. I was only hoping that the missing items were not too sophisticated or
complex. My hunch was correct. The parts absent from La Girouette are fairly minor.
The saving grace is the complete machine that I already own. I can see not only what
is missing but how the parts interact. Without my pre-existing example, the restoration
process would be exceedingly difficult and certainly beyond my modest mechanical
skills. As it stands, I believe I can bring this game back to life under my own hand.
And what of the 1,283 mile drive to acquire the game? Rather than being a
minus, the drive was a plus. This is because my dear brother lives directly on my route
to the seller, three hours short of destination. In addition to a welcome visit, my
brother has been holding a family heirloom for me, a handgun formerly owned by our
father. Handguns may not legally be mailed to private citizens in the United States. I
had been looking for an excuse to personally retrieve this prize from my brother for
some time. This was the excuse I had been seeking.
Love. It changes the chemistry in our brain and µiakes us do crazy things.
Knowing now what I do about my most recent love, do I regret my decision?
Absolutely not. I now own two of these fascinating games, one of which works and
one with future promise. You can finish the sentence for me: "It is better to have
loved and lost than ... "
I think you will agree.
John Peterson, USA
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