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Thread: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

  1. #1
    Tokie Owens itstheride's Avatar
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    Smile British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    I recently became the proud owner of this machine. I am new to this and my best guess is that it is a B.M.Co PlayBall auto allwins machine. Can anyone confirm this? This thing has all of it's parts including the cash box with a hasp to padlock it in place and a couple of rods need reattached but they were inside. Can anyone give any more details on this? Age, value anything at all.IMG_20140929_182016_959.jpgIMG_20140930_133149_122.jpgIMG_20140929_182016_959.jpgIMG_20140930_133149_122.jpg

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    Pachi Puro Moparformances's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    looks like ya have a nice allwin there..

    im sure a member with more knowledge will be allong shortly to help ya with your questions

    and of course

    Welcome to Pachitalk
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    Scowlin' Jean Hornigold hanabi's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins



    I quite like Allwin style machines, although I don't own any I remember playing them in the Arcades when i was a child and I sometimes pop up the coast to play some at the Penny memories hands on museum arcade.

    I can give you this link to Mel Wrights page all about the BMC made machines:

    B.M.Co. Allwins

    and if you scroll down a little you will see some pics of a PlayBall machine too

    Congrats on a nice machine




    and Welcome to PachiTalk!!

    Angie ...
    Pachinkos, Pachislos, Coffee, Papercraft Ninja, Pinball

    I ran away with the Steampunk Circus!
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    Tokie Owens itstheride's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    Thanks Angie and Mopar! I love this machine and I will have it in 100% working order soon! Was this machine made to take English pennies only?

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    Pachi Puro Moparformances's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    Quote Originally Posted by itstheride View Post
    Thanks Angie and Mopar! I love this machine and I will have it in 100% working order soon!



    Quote Originally Posted by itstheride View Post
    Was this machine made to take English pennies only?
    yes that is my understanding
    Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, .......... /........ If your not going to stand behind our troops
    ...committed people can change the world. ............. /.................Please, Please stand in front of them
    .....Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has............./
    .........................................Margaret Mead

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    MacGruber JACKSJE4's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins



    Welcome to PachiTalk!!

    I have an extensive collection of British Allwin machines from several manufacturers, and I like to play them more than Pachinko to be honest (although I like collecting both!). I have several books at home that have lots of info on Allwins, so I will look yours up when I am home and post as much info as I can find for you.

    In the mean time, keep your questions coming - we are all here to help!

    ~Jeff
    Last edited by JACKSJE4; 10-02-2014 at 02:33 PM.
    Jeff Jackson, Denver CO

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    Tokie Owens itstheride's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    Thanks Jeff! Looking forward to anything you can tell me. Anyone know where I can get some English Old Pennies to use in this machine?
    Last edited by itstheride; 10-03-2014 at 11:52 AM.

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    MacGruber JACKSJE4's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    The British Manufacturing Company (BM Co.) was founded in London in 1914 by George E. Mason and J.E. Jackson, and remained in business building Allwin and other novelty games until 1946 when the company was closed. The business was managed by Charles Featherstone in the beginning, and he eventually bought the company after J.E. Jackson died in 1922 and George Mason retired. The company's specialty in the early years was rifle range games for the Worlds' Fair. They hit hard times during the thirties, struggling to stay in business, so they changed their business model to address the growing popularity of the Allwin arcade machine.

    Charles Featherstone retired in 1946, and was unable to find a buyer for the company, so it was permanently closed.

    The company manufactured 52 different Allwin games in it's time. The PlayBall game was first introduced in 1936 and was manufactured for four years.
    Jeff Jackson, Denver CO

    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

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    Tokie Owens itstheride's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    Thanks Jeff. I cannot believe the condition this thing is in being that it is that old. Lucky find! It is going to be in a prominent place in my man cave and it will be fully functional.

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    MacGruber JACKSJE4's Avatar
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    Default

    Regarding the British pennies, you can look for them on eBay UK. Also, US half dollars usually work.




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Jeff Jackson, Denver CO

    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

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    I was thrown out of Top Gear Drunkenclam's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    If a UK ebayer will not ship, you can always try asking one of the Brits on here, one might be able to help, search for old or pre decimal pennies.
    Ian #UKPachinko

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    MacGruber JACKSJE4's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    As for value, if your machine is in great "original" condition and hasn't been restored, then you are looking at a pretty valuable collector's item. Naturally, it would fetch a greater price in the U.K., as there is a greater nostalgic value for these machines over there, but here in the U.S. I would estimate you might be able to sell it to a collector for somewhere around $800. In the U.K. I'm sure you could get well over $1,000 for it, maybe even $2,000.
    Jeff Jackson, Denver CO

    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

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    Tokie Owens itstheride's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    Thanks Jeff for all your info on this machine. It has not ever been restored and is in beautiful condition. I haven't had time yet to get it working and that's all I'm going to do with it. I love this thing!

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    Tokie Owens itstheride's Avatar
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    Default Re: British Manufacturing Company PlayBall Auto Allwins

    A little history. This machine used to hang on the wall of a store called "Quonset Hut" in Canton, Ohio back in the 70's. Quonset Hut was the first "Head Shop" to open in our small town and was the coolest store in town. They sold everything from rolling papers, bongs, albums (showing my age) to hippie style clothing. I remember seeing this machine whenever I went into the store.

    The couple that owned the store retired around 2007 and sold the store. When they did they took this machine with them. Fast forward to 2014. A girl that my girlfriend worked with told her about a woman that was selling some old furniture and some collectables so we went to see what she had. It was Cindy, the former owner of the Quonset Hut. Her husband had passed two years earlier after they had moved to Colorado. They had kept their house in Ohio and she came back to sell the house and most of the contents. I walked into the living room and on a shelf sat this game. I could not believe my eyes!

    Although we did not know each other personally we talked at length about the store and how much I loved it in my "hippie" days. I asked her if she would sell me the game and she said she would love to see it go to a former customer of the Quonset Hut. I love this machine and I always smile when I look at it because of the memories.

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