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My other project in the waiting is this one. Unsurprisingly, no keys. I really don’t want to drill it but I’m a very novice lock picker. I have furnished myself with some lock picking tools though! So a couple of questions…. The ‘cover’ rotates freely so the idea of putting a small wrench in to put ...

Thanks for suggestions.

I’ve found this article which might give me a few pointers on how to tackle it. Will be a few weeks till I get a chance to sort it (got to go on holiday and then build a downstairs loo first!) but will be fun to try and get it going.

https://sound-au.com/clocks/ocm.html

This one’s a bit off topic so please remove if inappropriate. However I’m sure there will be people here who are interested and may be able to offer advice. I purchased a Japanese barber pole nonworking. On opening it up I was expecting a synchronous motor. However there is no self-contained unit wi...

Excellent. Thanks. I’ll give it a try!

I just picked these two up at auction. The one in the right is in a bit of a state but the left hand one isn’t too bad really - but it’s locked. I’m going to get a lock pick set and have a go but does anyone know how good the locks are on these things. I’m guessing they might be a bit more secure th...

I have a Many Happy Returns which is the same mech. There should be about 45 balls in it. Insert a coin should deliver one ball. Flick the ball and try to fill the columns. When a column fills the ball that falls down the back should allow the win handle to turn and pay out a variable amount linked ...

Looks great! Nice way to do it and few would notice the difference.

Finally got mine up on the wall this morning. Just waiting for the 3/16rod to arrive so I can replace the missing pins.

Thanks. I’ll get working on it when I get a min!

Here is the drawing I used to fabricate them. Because I don't have a lathe, I made them from two circular rods - one 3/16" diameter and one 7/16" diameter. I used imperial measure bright steel which is more expensive than metric mild steel but it just didn't look right in metric sizes. I ...

Thanks for that! Big help. Tallstory, how did you make you replacement pins? Was it a single piece of bar or two different sizes, one inserted in the other? And what material did you use? Finally how to they attach to the rest of the mech? And finally, finally…… is it straightforward to get the mech...

Thanks GL - a lovely example as you say. I notice that the 2 end pins in the ball bearing columns are missing. They were missing on mine too so I did a bit of research online and found that most machines are like this. Obviously it reduces the payout quite dramatically so I can see why operators wo...

A few pics. It’s it lovely condition. Just a slight wave in the backflash but nothing serious.

Thanks for the suggestions and pics. I think I’ve sorted it. It appears the rearmost flap - the ones that presses the fingers back when the handle is turned had slipped slightly on the shaft meaning it wasn’t pulling the fingers back correctly. Pulling it out a couple of mm seems to have sorted it. ...

Topic merged - Site Admin. I’ve just picked up a Many Happy Returns. All good but doesn’t payout the correct amounts. It moves 2 or 3 slides but never 4 or 5. The reason for this is the payout flap isn’t fully moving up against the shorter payout fingers meaning it’s not moving far enough to engage...

There are many on here far more expert than me so you’ll want to hear from them but there’s nothing jumping out to me to suggest it’s something else.

Well that’s fascinating! I had no idea of the connection to the mellotron. An amazing sounding instrument appearing on some classic music of the time. The Russian choir sample was the best for me! Thanks for some gap filling!

Looking forward to seeing the results!

It'll be fun getting that going with no schematic! Assuming there isn't one.

Looks the same base as my Pace. Overall width 14 inches, pins are 2 inches in from each side, 10 inches between them.

Excellent. You must have a steady hand!