Mechanical Memories Magazine

It is not clear at what point British manufacturers decided it might be a good idea to
produce this popular machine, or for that matter who. Due to the dubious legality of these
machines, many makers found it of benefit to remain anonymous, and it is frustrating that
so many machines have survived with no manufacturers mark. It is likely that a good
number of so called Saxony allwins now in the hands of collectors were actually
produced in this country. One early maker that we do know of was Frank Harwood of
Birmingham. These machines are exact copies of their German contemporaries, and it is
clear to see from the picture below how a Harwood machine could be easily mistaken for
a Saxony allwin.
Above, a Harwood Al/win De-Luxe, a replica of the Saxony machines of the late '20s.
Opposite page left, an early Saxony machine, which I operate at Brighton. This machine
dates from about 1920 and was originally an al/win reserve. Most of the surviving
German machines are not as old as their owners might like to think, many of which are
early 1930s rather than early 20s. Hallmarks of the early machines are a relatively plain
case, with no fluting on the sides and very simple routing around the top and bottom.
They also have 'roofs' (like Wonders machines) and no pediment. There is no separate
cash door, this facility being introduced much later. Note the plate above the coin entry,
which conceals the position of the second coin entry, originally accepting tokens
Opposite page right, a later Saxony 'Fivewin '. Picture courtesy Johnny Burley.
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