Mechanical Memories Magazine

Coventry 2013
By Martin Larcombe
Well, another well organised and well attended auction on Sunday 24 th November
2013 at the Coundon Club in Coventry. Thanks Jerry, and all those involved in
running such a great event. I think it was clear to see there is a good keen following
for these events, with plenty of sellers and buyers, so I would like to pass on thanks
from all those who attended.
This year I apprehensively brought my girlfriend (Pam) along. I say
apprehensively because I was thinking she is never going to sit through a three hour
auction plus the machine viewing and the journey. Anyway, having warned her, we set
off from Essex, a little late as had some running around. As it was going to be a long
day we stuck to our 'five a day' principles with raisins in the fruit and nut bar,
courgettes, onions, tomatoes from Burger King and orange juice that missed the cup
holder and ended up on the car floor! We negotiated the Coventry ring road that runs
around the centre of town, with its strange 'do or die' entrances and exits. I found the
best policy is to shut your eyes and accelerate. Somehow finding ourselves through,
we ignored the voice saying "turn right" and pulled up at the Coundon Club.
As we walked through the doors into darkness, we could just make out Jerry
doing meet and greet. Programme shown and money paid we went straight into the
hustle and bustle of eager potential buyers studying machines for which they may bid.
We really enjoyed seeing all these old penny machines stacked up sometimes three
deep, although I think Pam was expecting a little more Vegas glamour (I had not
described the Coundon Club before setting oft) but it perfectly suits our purpose.
Plenty of lots to bid for in our slottie Mecca, with its shady lighting and non-designer
interior. It strangely seems to create the right atmosphere for the auction; friendly staff
and cheap bar prices help too!
Pam enjoyed watching the whole process of the auction; the different styles of
the auctioneers, the shout of "new blood" as a new bidder comes on board, some
bidders casually raising their numbers, some thrusting them in the air for fear of not
being seen. Also looking at who was buying, "He's buying a lot over there ..... Are all
these people paying cash? .... How much commission does the auctioneer get?" And
the next thing I know, she is on her feet waving my number in the air!
There was a good variety of machines this year, from early allwins, Bryans
Pyramids to some quite nice bandits of varying ages, bagatelles, plenty of spares,
signs, books, memorabilia, seaside postcards and pictures. Most items seem to have
sensible reserves and as far as I could tell, most items were sold, with machines
transferring themselves to new happy smiley faced owners.
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