Mechanical Memories Magazine

At one penny a move the coin releases the handle which moves the 'stock' wheel one
position. When the handle is depressed, the wheel 'bounces' rapidly from left to right,
thus giving the illusion that it is spinning. The reality is that the stock wheel ' s
movement is predetermined. The 'Stock' appears in a window at the top of the
machine. Each wheel appears to have 49 items of stock and vary between 11 and 15
that payout. The owner/operator would make between 8 to 1 Od on average per
rotation. As can be seen from the front casting on the machine, Sterling paid the
highest amount 6d (only one on the wheel), textiles Sd, shipping 4d (very few of these
are on the wheel but obviously to keep you interested smaller amounts are more
numerous), rubber 3d and coal pays 2d. Loans, Bonds and Trusts pay nothing.
In an effort to 'modernise', some machines were converted to 'Cricketers. ' The
earliest I found was between 1934 to 1936, the rest in the 1950s. The difference being
_ the 'stock' was changed to the names of cricketers of the day (payouts) and the rest,
stumped, bowled and caught being numerous non-payouts. A downside of these
conversions is that some of the original cast lettering was ground off and plated over.
The pictures show the machines in as found condition, and at least one in its
restored finish , as found in a cellar in Margate. They are believed to originate from the
old pier. They languished in a basement for years belonging to a chap who had an
arcade years ago in Dreamland and these originally belonged to his mother, who had
an arcade on the pier. By the state of them, some must have been outside on a stand!
It is interesting to note that some have letters/numbers painted inside or on the
back doors and the front plates painted in different colour layouts, which we think
defined the owner/operator.
I have an original sales leaflet for the machine, which really helped clear up a few
mystery holes and a blank plate. The plate in question, which some machines have and
some don't, appears to be an instruction guide. The two holes in the casting at the base
held a cast window enclosing a facsimile of the inner wheel so one could see the order
of play. A strange idea, to let the player(s) know when a payout was due; I couldn't
image the modern stuff today tipping off the punter. It does make you wonder how
much amusement it did give, but then times were more simple. If you got fed up with
it and never used them again, at least they looked good!
Stuart Searle
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