Lights of London pinball

[pennymachines]

This 1930s 'Lights of London' (Little Auctions, March 21st) has seen better days, and someone's had fun with the paint pot, but has anyone seen one before? I can find no reference to it anywhere. These odd-ball, forgotten, British pinball machines always intrigue me.

[treefrog]

Looks like one of my restorations

[moonriver]

I wonder if the traffic lights changed like a Tuck Shop traffic light when the ball passed

[pennymachines]

I imagine the idea was to progress the lights from red to green by hitting the correct scores, possibly for a payout?

[gameswat]

possibly for a payout?

Well Yes, the much lauded "JACKPOT" !

[moonriver]

I'd love to see it working, hope someone able bought it to restore

[pennymachines]

Apparently London’s first electric traffic lights were installed on the corner of St James’s Street, Piccadilly, in 1926, with police stationed next to them at all times to ensure drivers obeyed them. That could be a clue to dating this pinball, probably made when traffic lights were a novelty.

[wembleylion]

There is also a Belisha beacon each side of the traffic signal so this would date it to around 1934 when the first ones were installed in Britain.
John

[arrgee]

Photo looks like its from americaland Mr PM, especially with the 'Drive To Right' sign.

[pennymachines]

True... So I found this photo labelled 'St James Street, Piccadilly, London - 1925', which shows the lights.

According to Wikipedia, the first automatic lights in Britain were placed at the junction of Lichfield Street and Princess Street, Wolverhampton, in 1927.

Tellingly, the Pathé newsreel clip in this video is tiltled, The New "Lights of London".



The New "Lights of London" British Pathé, 1926 (these automatic lights appear to have replaced the manual ones installed a year earlier).