New Slot Machine Book

Rumours of a new encyclopedic slot machine volume in the making have wafted over the pond for many years. The original idea from the publisher of the coffee table classic Slot Machines on Parade was an even more ambitious and comprehensive hardback called The Great Big Picture Book of Slot Machines. Sadly at some point during its 25 year conception economic pragmatism intervened and the result was Reel History, a 439 page paperback pictorial reference guide containing 436 machines from over 67 different manufacturers. Each machine listed and photographed in black and white contains the original manufacturer's name, date of introduction, nickname and machine type. As a bandit shopper's field guide, it should fill a niche not adequately covered at present. I shall order some for the Library.

MECHANICAL MEMORIES MAGAZINE

Click Mechanical Memories Magazine for the details and online order form of this new publication.

Jerry has decided (wisely in my view) to keep the focus firmly on vintage slot machines without straying too far into other already well served interests such as fairground, video games, jukeboxes or the later pinballs. Lineage adverts will be free to subscribers.

The existence of online resources such as this website has not diminished the demand for an ink and paper magazine that plops through the letterbox once a month and I hope collectors will support this one.

Despite repeated promises over the last couple of years the Antique Amusement Magazine has yet to re-appear leaving many subscribers short-changed. No refunds were offered. Customers of the Antique Amusement Co. have, in my view, been treated unprofessionally and disrespectfully which is why I did not include next Sunday's auction in the Calendar.

New Vintage Slot Magazine

Good news! A new magazine called Mechanical Memories devoted to vintage coin-operated games and antique amusements will be published on March 25th by Jerry Chattenton proprietor of the Mechanical Memories Amusement Museum on Brighton seafront and the Puppet Pier at Hop Farm Theme Park. It will consist of around thirty pages of info, adverts and articles in b/w A5 format. Subscriptions will be £22 for 11 issues a year (issued every month except August). Lineage adverts will be free to subscribers. I wish Jerry well with this - it sounds like the sort of thing collectors have been asking for. Watch this space for more details and an order form shortly.

Southern Counties Details

Click here for details, lot entry form, catalogue ordering and images of a few items already consigned for the May 21st Southern Counties Auction of Vintage Slot Machines. Sellers' and buyers' commission is 5%. Closing date for entries is 27th April.

Christie's invitation to consign

I just received the following Invitation to Consign from Laurence Fisher for Christie's sale of Mechanical Music and Technical Apparatus, Wednesday 31 May 2006:

We are currently inviting items to be consigned for our forthcoming auction of Mechanical Music and Technical Apparatus, on the 31 May 2006.  The deadline for entries is the 15 March.

Our twice yearly sales have attracted purchasers from all over the world to view cylinder and disc musical boxes, early wireless and television, technical apparatus, phonographs and gramophones and, following the success of the recent Nic Costa Collection auction in January, vintage slot machines.

Christie's welcome the opportunity to visit collections and offer free verbal advice on a number to single, individual items, appraising these with auction estimates in current market terms and pieces covering this subject are warmly welcomed at our central reception counter at South Kensington.   As we consign all year round, we have storage space available for large items until the sale.

I look forward to helping you and I can be contacted on the telephone: +44 (0) 20 7752 3278, Laurence Fisher.

A rare Edison Class M Phonograph with
Bettini attachments sold for £22,800,
London 26 May 2005.