Arcade? Penny Arcade?

[hazbriz]

I recently visited Wooky Hole Caves - and one of their attractions is a brilliant "end of pier" themed old style penny arcade where you swap your real money for old pennies to use on all the old slot machines, a really fascinating collection - and very atmospheric!
I just wondered if Dreamland was planning an arcade - as this style arcade would fit in perfectly, if they could source such a collection. "what the butler saw" etc!

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

Good idea in my opinion, Great Yarmouth has a similar arcade, and I recall they sell you ten old pennies for a £1.

Pre-decimal slot machines are easy to come by, eBay is full of them, I have a couple myself.

[jo.clarinet]

I think that this would be a great idea too! I remember going to the Wookey Hole place about 25 years ago when the children were small, and they - and we - loved all the old machines - and it was a bonus that one could actually play on them and see them come to life, rather than simply inspecting them as silent museum pieces.

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

Here's the one in my bedroom, a Ruffler & Walker "Win a Penguin" allwin, made around 1950.






You put a penny in and a ball falls out. You then flick it with the trigger at bottom right, whizz it round the spirals, and try to get it into a winning cup. If you do, you win a Penguin bar, which you get by turning the knob at bottom left.


Some people may have seen Tim Hunkin's work. Tim Hunkin started out as a Saturday boy for Ruffler & Walker.


I love these old machines.

[ripnet]

I seem to remember Brighton also has some of these... i love the ones with metal balls that u have to get into a hole by flicking with a plunger... the XBox cannot compete with these

[Scotchie]

I remember playing those down Pleasurama when I was small - along with the fishing for ducks !!

[blue]

Didn't Margate have something like it too? Didn't the old pier have a very cheap arcade with lots of old fashion (even them) games and machines. I can't remember how much each go was, but 1/2p springs to mind!

[aweber1us]

I have a Sega Copper Bonanza in my garage that came from Dreamland. The arcade was at the back of the Water Chute pre Bembon,I dont remember it myself . I hope to have the time to restore it one day or may be return it to its home.

[vince69619]

I know Dave Hooper who runs a number of penny arcades including a mobile one on a trailer.

I will be spending a few hours with him in September if anyone want's me to talk to him about loaning some machines.

Vince.

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

I have a Sega Copper Bonanza in my garage that came from Dreamland. The arcade was at the back of the Water Chute pre Bembon,I dont remember it myself . I hope to have the time to restore it one day or may be return it to its home.

I've fully restored two mechanical one armed bandits, a Sega Diamond 3 Star and a Mills High-Top and both were hugely enjoyable projects. If you just spend an hour or two tinkering with the mechanism you will be hooked!

I've also had eight or nine pinball machines in the past, dating from the '50s to the 70's, and all of these were bought as scrap, the last one from an arcade on Margate seafront, and when I get more space I'm going to get another.

Finally, here's another lovely machine, this was the last one I restored. Not exactly an arcade machine, they were found in pubs and clubs in the North and were made by a wireless repairman in Llandudno named Arthur Brown and were endorsed by Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

[Ray_Traylor]

I remember the Penny Arcade at the end of Margate Pier, probably around the 1970's/1980's.

I think a Penny Arcade would suit the new Dreamland down to the ground, maybe with retro arcade machines sourced from around the country. It's these kind of unique things that would draw people in from all over.

A lot of people I think miss Arcades as they were; all they are now are pretty much stuffed with Fruit Machines and the odd Gun/Driving game - the family aspect has depleted somewhat.


Ray

[Sarah]

The penny arcade I remember was on the Sun Deck. We saved our pennies in a jar for the annual visit! I'd love to see one at the park. These old machine are so beautiful, as well as a lot of cheap fun.

I'd also like to see some old pinball machines. I think the new Pinball Parlour in Ramsgate has been posted on one of the other forums, but if you haven't seen it:

www.pinballparlour.co.uk

Sarah

[Gary]

Anyone who has been to Southport in the last few years will know about their vintage arcade at the end of the pier...Fantastic!!

All the machines featured in the "Im drifting back to Dreamland" Youtube Video thread are all there.

Vince, Charlie and Sam et al: There's nothing better than watching a silver ball sink in a "Win" hole and receive a KitKat for your troubles as I witnessed last week!

An arcade at Dreamland would be a fantastic idea!

[aweber1us]

Hi

I had the mechanical side of my Sega machine working a good few years ago . It is mainly the case that needs a repaint but could never find out how it would of first looked.
There never seems to be enough time as i also own an Old Maidstone and District bus and an old car. Along with my three kids.
It would be nice if my machine could return to Dreamland one day.