Mechanical Memories Magazine

Enough to Make Your Eyes
Water
By Richard Goddard
There are certain things in life that you never forget; you may not always be able to
instantly recall them, but our senses are some of the most significant elements that
assist us in bringing to mind events and memories that occurred a Jong time ago.
I grew up in the austere post war years of the early 1950s, and in those days
sweets were not a common commodity. When my mother went into a local grocery
shop the lady who served her always produced a 'little something' for my brother and
me; a chocolate bar or some sweets from behind the counter. I was probably only 4 or
5 years old but the feeling of receiving that little luxury and the excitement that it
created, burned an indelible memory that I shall not forget, even 60 years later. Every
time I pass by the building (now converted to a house) I can still recall the emotion of
anticipation and excitement of the visits to that grocery shop.
I suppose we can all recall those kinds of memories that are inextricably linked to
emotions and experiences long forgotten but still embedded in our innermost psyche.
But what has this got to do with slot machines? Well, another such memory of
childhood excitement of being on the pier and in the arcades instantly flashed back
into my mind recently when we were staying in Devon. My wife Sally and I were on
holiday with our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, when I noticed that
Watermouth Castle was only about 40 minutes from where we were staying. Jerry has
mentioned Watermouth as one of the places to visit and see a collection of slot
machines, so fortified with eager anticipation (me, not the grandchildren!) we set off
for Ilfracombe, in north Devon.
Watermouth Castle is advertised as a 'Family Theme Park and Castle.' Their
advertising flyers and website barely mention that they have slot machines, so I did
not expect much. How wrong I was! We all arrived at the castle early, paid our
entrance fee and went in. Watermouth is not an arcade in any sense of the meaning;
the other 'attractions' (and there are many) certainly take centre stage. However, the
first room that the visitor walks into has a very large animated/automaton band on a
stage intermittently playing music. This was quite entertaining but against one of the
other walls there was a beautiful wood and glass case containing a banjo that caught
my eye. On closer inspection I found it was a musical slot machine! I have never seen
such a machine before, it was made by The American Automatic Banjo Co. of New
Jersey.
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