Welcome to...
THE GAMESROOM GALLERIES
This is home to some of the BEST home collections around!
If you want to show the rest of the world your collection of Fruit Machines or Amusement Machines then this is THE place to do it!
All FREE and we will update it when you update YOUR collection!
JAMES' (aka Geezer & Super7) GAMESROOM!
James is a big fan of Classic Machines and as you will see with through his collection of rare fruit machines and also a superb pusher.
His favourite machines are mainly Barcrest machines, however he also likes his System 5 JPM's but so long as it is a classic he will give the reels a spin.
James also has an industry leader working for him as his technician. Her name is Eve:
James' WANTED machines: HOT DOGS - JPM, HIGH SPIRITS (2p Game) UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER.
This is James' collection of machines. Watch how his games room was built!
Check out his collection below!
Speak to JAMES on our exciting forum he is username: SUPER7!
Here is the STORY James' Games room was born!
The Machines!
BIG BREAKFAST - BFM
BEAR X - COINWORLD
FRANK N STEIN - CRYSTAL
ANDY's GREAT ESCAPE - BWB
THE VIZ - BARCREST
ANDY CAPP - BARCREST
GHOST BUSTER - BARCREST
HOT ROD - BWB
CARNIVAL COUNTDOWN - WHITTAKERS
DAREN'S GAMESROOM
This is Daren's gamesroom. As you can see Daren owns some of the most sought after machines EVER made. How amazing to see a Razzle Dazzle next to a Fortune Numbers. Daren has written a detailed description of his machines below.
Speak to Daren on our exciting forum he is username: DAREN!
Razzle Dazzle & Fortune Numbers
Snappy Viper & Chances Unlimited
Nudges unlimited - Barcrest
Written by Daren himself...
Clearly and in case you haven't already recognised, I'm a 'Crest fan. Not that I wouldn't own something else but these Machines bring back the best memories for me. Like most persons with a collection, I started playing I guess when I was about 10 and recall Butlins Skegness as the first place. I remember the arrivals hall had a Royal Exchange £100, then I recall also Playing an Adders and Ladders (I used to own one) and Line Up, also some JPM's around that era too. At around the same time I Went on a football trip to Jersey and recall a Special Circle on the boat from Portsmouth. It's very strange because back Then, most of the pocket money went on playing these damn things and consequently, not a lot was left for anything else. My folks weren't too pleased about that!
It wasn't really until around 2003 that I thought about owning a machine myself, and so came across Fruit Forums on the internet. It seemed back then that people were genuinely interested in the preservation of older machines and so the MPU Mecca was born. Around that time, maybe a bit before, there was a genuine market in the sale/purchase of these machines and such machines I have in my collection today commanded (and still do to an extent) a very high price. It's fair to say that £500 was the starting point for most £2/£3 MPU3 machines. So, I decided to get my machines in this order:
Royal Exchange £50 - No longer with me. I chose this machine for 2 reasons. 1. It was a lot cheaper that a non-clubber, I think it cost be £70-£100 and 2. My father had one at his works canteen at the old British Gas office in Orpington. I collected the machine from a family in Leicester who used it literally as a money box. They said they'd only ever got the jackpot a couple of times over the years that they had it. It wasn't until I sold it to a Mecca member Graham (known as Superbank) that there was a way to demo the JP in test mode! Oh well. In fact, I think the final destination of the machine was a great chap called Mike Stead (MDS-SAS on the Mecca). It's a great shame the MDS doesn't come to the Mecca anymore. That chap has THE ultimate collection of 80's machines.....note to myself "I must give him a bell sometime"
Adders and Ladders - no longer with me. Trying to recall where I got this from, I think it was from somewhere in London and from a warehouse. Machine was in good condition, in fact all machines I have purchased have had working MPU3's which I'm told is lucky! It was the £3 version so "Super Adders and Ladders". The best bit about this machine was nudging from one nudge square to another, further up the board. No G.A.I.N on this machine so nudge the numbers only if you can count! I believe this was one of the earliest MPU3's, shortly released after Nudges Unlimited. A great machine that I ended up doing a swap with for a Chances Unlimited. Another member of the Mecca, Chris Wren (known as Wizard I guess for his emulation skills amongst other things) needed a set of reels for his adders, so I swapped and gave him another £100 for his chances. It was only then that I
saw Chris's amazing collection of MPU3's - what machine didn't he have?!?!?! In fact, he didn't have a Fortune Numbers or Naughty But Nice but I think that may have changed now. Dartford Carousel and the Ice Rink at Gillingham had one each.
Fortune Numbers Deluxe (£3 JP). I have to admit, when I think about this machine it actually brings back sombre memories for me. It's quite a 'tight' machine and really did take a lot of money off me at a time when I couldn't afford it. So when I saw one on eBay, it was rather strange that I had an overwhelming desire to buy it, at all costs. I paid £900 for it and was, I'm ashamed to say, guilty of ending an auction on eBay early for my outside bid. I travelled past Birmingham to get this one on a Sunday morning. I recall Mecca members getting quite upset at the unknown bidder and to this day, regret I never went through with the auction in a proper manner. The machine itself is a high-top, similar to Razzle Dazzle and but for a lack of exchanges or held nudges, really does compete with the best. I like the long feature board with some good (but standard for the time) features, for instance Guaranteed gamble win, Lucky did and Super Series. That red triangle (not Channel 4 lads!) was the one to land on. This machine is definitely in my top three and is highly sought after by many. Remember playing these in Dartford (Jumborama), Teignmouth Pier in Devon had two next to each other too!
Super Line Up - no longer with me. Well, what can one say about this machine? Truly the daddy of MPU3, probably the best selling, definitely the one you saw the most back then. Think of current arcades with identical machines next to one another and you get a picture of how popular this machine actually was. Great game play, smack the **** and you instantly know your fate. The sounds are terrific and the displays dazzling. A truly great machine and one that has been copied (not very successfully for the most part) over the years. I had this machine tarted up by MDS and converted to new coinage. Selling it was a wrench but decided by two factors: 1. Needed room in my garage for another machine and 2. Dave stuck one in his arcade in my home town Gravesend! No 2. sealed it for me so Dave, don't you dare move it!
Chances Unlimited - I like this machine but it's probably No1 if I was to get rid of one. It's a bit stingy and I always seem to be having to go to the back of the machine and pumping out a few more coins to play on it. Anyway, in the true Barcrest way of that era, it has fast game play and three exchanges which was a new thing for them back then. Cash/Nudges/Super Series exchanges available but the latter still didn't take you past £3 or to another game that could have given you more. Moulded on the Exchanges Unlimited machine. It still has one and it's on old coinage. I used to travel to the Carousel in Woolwich to play this one, on the 96 bus and always came back with nothing!
Snappy Viper - I don't actually recall where I used to see this machine except for one time on a travelling funfair in Paignton one year. This machine is brilliant, my favourite small cab of that era. I picked it up from a chap in Walthamstow for just short of £500 I think. He kept it in his living room which itself had a mini bar in. In fact, I remember thinking that me taking it away would actually make his room less welcoming! The graphics of the machine are really clever and I love the way the Lucky Dips have been incorporated into the feature trail. I think Blue/Orange for the nudge squares looks awesome. The sounds are based on Line-up so when you consider that the game is based on the best MPU3 ever made and given a few improvements here and there, you have one of the best machines ever made. I know Dave wants one. Sorry pal, you can't have mine!
Razzle Dazzle - My favourite of all time. The strange thing is, I only ever recall playing this in two places, Dymnchurch New Beach holiday park (still there, the park that is...) and the kebab shop next to the Two Brewers in Dartford. The RD in the kebab shop had a problem with the 20p slot in that it gave you seven credits. One thing I remember though was that it never gave me a JP. It probably had the block at £1.50 set on the dips. After joining the forums, it was acknowledged that this machine, when coming to auction, was the one on everyone’s list. Only one of two owned up to owning one that I know of, Wizard and Red Rose Leisure. I lost the first one on eBay to an enormous bid of over £1500 if I recall. When the next one came up, I was ready with a couple of grand, so was very pleased to pick it up for £1300 or so. I collected from a place in Essex and bought it back in the car thinking I'd better watch the corners here! When I got it back home, the cabinet was in a bit of a
state and leaned to one side, such was the damage to the wood. I got in touch with MDS who had an old FN cab and he literally rebuilt it for me, used a few tricks to get the black trim looking good and converted to new cash. I LOVE this machine and it comes indoors over winter. The gameplay is the best in my opinion and has some wicked features, like landing on square 1 and respinning to wins which have got me £5 or more. It has unused nudges (max and a lucky dip exchange. 80p or £1 wins, if exchanged for Lucky Dip, will usually get you special series or unlimited nudges. Sorry chaps, but this machine goes to the grave with me!
Nudges Unlimited - My last machine and actually I picked it up about a mile from where I live. This was the first MPU3 built (I believe) and has a £2 JP. Paid about £400 for it and it's in good condition in terms of the glasses but the cab is a bit tatty so I stuck it on wheels. It's simple, like exchanges unlimited but without the exchange and has the basic barcrest sounds that attracted me to them in the first place. If holds a dear place in my memory and is as such, one of my favourite machines.
AL'S PERSONAL COLLECTION
Aka DaddyAl84 on our forum!
This is Al's collection of machines. He didn't own any for a while, he certainly does now! Each picture supplied by Al also has a short description written by himself.
Al's favourite machines are Roller Coaster and Fast Track. So he is certainly a JPM fan.
Al also loves any classic machines and is not a fan of the new ones. Behind the scenes he is one of the reasons why our forum has become so successful.
Speak to Al on our exciting forum he is username: DaddyAl84!
ROLLER COASTER - JPM 5p £4 Jackpot
My first machine purchase in around 2002 from ebay, brought and installed in my bedroom without my parents knowledge, fortunately they knew I loved my machines and my argument that I would use it to save money worked a treat and soon I was forgiven! Unfortunately this was the £4 jackpot version, whereby all ‘bar’ wins were worth £4 and gave the JACKPOT. I never once had ‘The Waltzers’ or ‘The Nemisis’ from standard play, even set at 84%. Sold on when I moved out in 2005
THUNDERBIRDS - BARCREST 25p £15 Jackpot
First played this in the arcade at Haven Great Yarmouth where I failed to lose money on it all week. Loved the audio and gameplay and went on to add it to my collection in 2003, again from ebay. Set on 84% it gave a fantastic game. Again like Rollercoaster this was sold on in 2005 when I moved out, and regretted it ever since. Only saw one for sale since then, on ebay last year however was pulled and never seen again.
NET Super Blackjack Pachislo.
The first ‘machine’ to enter my collection in early 2011, actually acquired from Dave (Mr P) to help him with space issues in his basement, it was blocking access to his freezer if I recall correctly. This machine was released in 2003 and is seen as one of the all time great Pachislo machines. This one is running on pachislo tokens, though could be converted to 2p or 10p fairly easily. The idea with the Pachislo machine is you actually ‘skill’ stop the reels, attempting to stop a winning combo. If you hit three Red or blue seven’s you activate the big bonus which I have seen go for over 350 tokens. A fantastic little machine.
Double Money
Acquired in June 2011 for just £10. Brought not working, however have yet to really take a good look at it. Unfortunately it came with no keys so I drilled the locks, only to find a set of keys in the bottom. This machine has no power lead, and due to unusual socket has proved difficult to find. Eventually I will rewire the socket to take a standard kettle lead and hope to get it running in the future. Wiring diagram inside the machine suggest a date of 1973 so an old girl!
BFM Nudge Gambler
This one came from a great gentleman up in Bradford who had his own games room in the basement, selling it on to make space for another arrival. It working order with the exception that the insert coin light does not work. Set to run on new coinage and a £1 all cash Jackpot a simple yet fun machine
Electrocoin Magic 777
A rare machine identical to that in Mr P’s. This was acquired from Mr P on a ‘permanent loan’ to help him out with his storage issues. Initially set at 10p per line I have now set her up using 1p’s so a very soft game – and I always have a wallet full of 1p’s so nice and easy to fund. Get 3 7’s for the MEGA STREAK which can easily pay 300+ coins. Highly recommend giving this a whirl if you in Mr P’s.
KEVIN'S GAMESROOM
This is Kevins gamesroom. He is also a lover of the classic fruit machines, but a lover of general seaside amusements too. Each picture supplied by Kevin also has a short description written by himself.
Speak to Kevin on our exciting forum he is username: Big Kev!
KEVINS GAMESROOM
retroamusements.co.uk
KEVINS GAMESROOM
retroamusements.co.uk
POUNDSTRETCHER
MAM rebuild from a Bell Fruit game 5p, / £1.00 – a rescue machine that came not too far from home at the time. I was told to come and take it for free as it came with a new house purchase. Either that or it would receive the dreaded hammer treatment! Converted to ‘All Cash’ probably as part of the rebuild. This machine works solely on old coins to aid originality
CRANE WITH PLUSH
You can’t help but want to have a play on one of these, even if you are fully aware it will play like a fruit machine! These are still relatively common now but are just so robust they should last forever. This came from Essex and has been very well cared for in its lifetime. It has just had a new control box fitted after the last 10 years service and both gantry & claw are like new.
CRANE WITH PLUSH
retroamusements.co.uk
CRANE WITH PLUSH
retroamusements.co.uk
CRANE WITH PLUSH
retroamusements.co.uk
ADDAMS FAMILY
A personal favourite of mine if we’re talking slightly newer Barcrest MPU 5 machines although being released in 2001, this is now 10 years old!! Working at 25p / £25.00 and good percentages, this is a fun game, especially when you’re offered ‘Mega Features’ Lots of popular audio, I can’t help but enjoy this themed machine.
BALLY DEUCES WILD
Purchased about 5 years ago, this Bally one armed bandit (10p / £2.50) helps demonstrate the evolution of the fruit machine. Totally random payouts (yes, true!), the reels ‘free-spin’ at a selected speed governed by the mechanical internals. “Wiper Arms’ then cut in and stop each reel individually. Specific circuits are activated where a win is detected and the set coinage is dispensed. A real game of chance. Hopper payout too!
BALLY RIO
Another fun Bally one armed bandit. This time with the added benefit of being able to ‘hold’ reels. Dating from the 70’s, this one is 2p play with a staggering 50p JP!!! There is even a change machine in the top box that will exchange 2p’s from the hopper for every 10p inserted. All fully working and in absolutely perfect condition they have so much charm – and remember it’s quite a workout with single coin entry and the arm to pull!!
BAR X 5
Electrocoin - A popular sight in most arcades but with the gameplay that should be expected!! This 25p / £25.00 machine replaced a Deluxe Big 7 on identical stake / prizes that unfortunately developed a terminal illness. Good fun when you’re in the mood with very few ‘dry’ spells. Was anyone aware this can actually be deemed a classic; with a manufacture date of 1998, it is now 13 years old!!
CRYSTAL MAZE
Absolutely brilliant Barcrest game from 1992 identical to the one in Mr P’s. Mine is running 20p / £10.00 with a high 90% payout giving excellent play on very little money. Lots of sampled sounds from the show, this MPU 4 game definitely takes you back! This came from a fellow collector in Dartford who had to downsize his machine numbers (orders from her upstairs!)
CAN CAN
An untouched Bell Fruit game running exactly as it would have done from the factory, 5p / £1.00 Token JP. Bought for very little and assumed not working but complete. Contact cleaner was all it needed; now fully working. Fortunately the machine came full to the brim with old coins and tokens alike which I have kept it working on – result! Equally, a 50p change option is available to give 10p pieces.
CARRIBEAN CRUISE
Ultra rare ‘Premier Games’ (formerly Gottlieb) machine from 1993 consisting of only 377 units!! Unique ‘cocktail’ table game. Full width but only ¾ length, this game is hard and fast! This is due to the ball having no-where to get any major distance away from the 4 x flippers! A two ball multi-ball is particularly difficult!! Large display set into the playfield means you have not got to look anywhere else but down!! Artwork in perfect condition.
CASH CONNECT
My very 1st fruit machine at 16 years of age. My parents finally gave in to constant badgering (I suppose to they realized I had a genuine interest). This has been with me all the way from the early days in my bedroom! A particularly rare Barcrest machine from 1987, 10p / £2.00 / £4.00 Tokens, it came from a Jukebox show! This has been in the collection now for 14 years and all without fault!!
CLUB CRAZY FRUITS
An extremely fun game with fun audio alike. Bell Fruit released a range of these games in different guises. This one is fully switchable with all the decals but unfortunately suffers with a hopper problem. Easy to fix but unfortunately, the gamesroom only warrants 1 x club machine which is Super Blackjack. This was in fact donated to me from a customer at work and will stay in storage until required.
ITALIAN JOB
Maygay have done a great job at turning this film into a fruit machine. I’ve had her on 20p / £10.00 for the whole time she has been in my possession (about 8 years) and I love it. I just wish I had enough space for all of the machines, all of the time!! There is one of these at the Gravesend arcade at the moment and is definitely worth playing. If you live under a rock and don’t know the film, still have a go, enjoyment guaranteed!
JAMMA MACHINE
Mid 80’s Jamma cab now sporting a 48 game in one board to revive older machines. This has every classic 80’s game you could possibly ever want – brilliant, and I don’t have to keep changing games over. I do also have a selection of original Jamma boards + a Neo Geo unit with games for that too. Great fun and when it’s not on free play, it’s a bargain at 20p per play!! Bought from a single site operator about 10 years ago.
NOTE EXCHANGE
One of my more recent additions taken under my wing from this very arcade. A classic game operating at 10p / £2.00. Always pay attention to the mystery win feature; it is more than capable of giving you big money! This JPM machine from 1988 has spent time on the floor of Mr P’s and can be seen in the 2nd picture of ‘shots of the arcade’, on the right.
NSM CITY IV
A must for social gatherings, this 1988 NSM machine is one of the last vinyl playing machines ever to be made. Many NSM machines were noted for their unusual way of playing records vertically!! It’s amazing to watch it do its stuff!! This was rescued from a friend of my fathers who was once a jukebox engineer. It had been stored away for the past 7 years and took some work to get it going I can say. A full cabinet restoration by myself and she is ‘as new’ again!
SUPER BLACKJACK
Cracking Barcrest game from 1994 with tall ladder game climbed via using the Hi-Lo card deck. Assorted sub games and wins offered throughout every step up with any win having the opportunity to gamble on the likeliness of a particular card or suit being swept in! This one is on 20p / £200.00 and is the only Club machine in the gamesroom. A very enjoyable machine that has been in the collection for 12 years.
SILVER 7's
This machine was bought purely for its sparkling good looks and rarity (if seen, usually in a rear opening deluxe cabinet). Essentially a ‘Big 7’ machine with 4 x prize awards, this 25p / £25.00 machine now offers the same good gameplay as my Bar X 5. This was a joint effort between Electrocoin & the United Distribution Co. in 2003 – They actually operate next door to each other in North West London.
THE GAMBLER PUSHER
Great 2player pusher just about suitable for home. Set up for 2p’s & 10p’s with goodies on both sides. Bonus coins awarded from the top box spinner if you can activate the centre ‘bonus’ target. 2p side is an instant hit with everyone especially as ‘swag’ gets changed regularly. Very good condition throughout. This came straight off an arcade floor due to being replaced with a more prominent machine – It’s big in this gamesroom mind you!!
TRAVEL TIME
An electro-mechanical Williams machine from 1972. A unique game in the fact that you do not have a specific amount of balls but an unlimited amount – as long as you have time on the clock though! – add time units by hitting certain targets. This machine was from a property on Abbey Road in London, not far from the Zebra crossing location famous for it’s association with The Beatles. Both playfield and back glass are in mint condition!
TAKE TWO - BARCREST
Do you have the S-K-I-L-L?? Another cracking effort from Barcrest '87, and virtually the same as Cash Zone (owned by Mr P's). This 20p / £6 version operates two winlines active at all times. Couple this with the 'true' skill element on the feature board and you can hardly lose!! Unusual black cab with a quite a few similarities to my 1st ever machine - Cash Connect of the same year!
SILVER GAMBLER - SUBELECTRO
10p / £2.00. A fabulously strange low tech from the mid 80’s, believed to be the last of its type still to survive!! Designed originally for the Mecca Bingo halls this game operates 2 win-lines active at all times – You need only match 3 numbers over either line to pay! A later machine from this company was Rainbow Gambler which had an additional gamble feature upon win. Another rare machine, one of which can be found at Mr P’s! Take a look at the Gravesend arcade machine line up!
VIVA ESPANA - BWB
Anything To Declare? Take a trip away to sunny Spain and try to pick up a few goodies along the way. However, as the question earlier would suggest, try not to get caught up with Customs!! This is the brilliant BWB version of this classic trail to end game. Currently on 5p / £4.00 and in absolute MINT condition, all the memories of playing this years ago come flooding back!
BRENCO's WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Located in Weston super Mare, Brenco manufactured games of varying types from 1964 to 1981. This game is known to be one of two surviving machines (the other on the Isle of Wight), and is believed to be their earliest ever entry into the amusement industry in 1964 with another title ‘Tinky’. Originally designed to operate on the old penny, this particular machine (like many) were converted to accept, and play on the new 1p after decimalisation was introduced in 1971.
BASE
This enabled many further years of service. Later modifications have been made in 2011, after some of the earlier works were finally life expired. All other aspects of the game are in surprisingly good condition and this machine is of course, fully working!
BET FIELD
Single or multiple bets can be placed where a player suspects the rotating arm will stop.
WHEEL
Located around the outer edge are possible WIN amounts. If a ‘made’ bet matches a corresponding ‘win’ then that amount will be paid.
