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Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:33 pm
by brigham
geofflove wrote: Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:01 pm So I sanded a bit today. I’m pretty sure it’s mahogany!
Are Waltonian Merchandisers made of mahogany, by any chance?

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:27 pm
by pennymachines
No, I think they're also oak. The only mahogany cased games that come to mind are pre WW1, like WH Ell's counter-top games.

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 4:48 pm
by geofflove
So, here’s the machine in the mahogany case. The remaining varnish makes it look a bit more like oak but it’s definitely not. The sides and door are mahogany like the other piece I sanded.
I’m quite keen to get working on it to see how it looks when restored....! The fun bit will be finding some mahogany to replace the bottom, cash door and top piece which usually holds the top flash as these are missing. Oh and a new thumb lever.

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:35 pm
by john t peterson
This exchange illuminates what I believe to be a significant part of the charm of the early British coin-op history. As opposed to the behemoth standardized construction practices of the American arcade and gambling companies, the English manufactures were more similar to Mom and Pop operators, using whatever might be available. No oak left in the inventory? Why not use that mahogany we got somewhere? Throw in the horrible shortages imposed by the two World Wars and you end up with some very inventive components in these period machines. This is not a detraction, but rather a valuable tale-tell marker of historical value. God save the Queen...and your British arcade heritage. These games are irreplaceable.

Affectionately yours,
J Peterson
USA

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:56 pm
by gameswat
pennymachines wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:27 pm No, I think they're also oak. The only mahogany cased games that come to mind are pre WW1, like WH Ell's counter-top games.
Don't forget that most of the 1950s Modern Enterprises automatons like Jolly Jack were in mahogany.

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:59 pm
by scorpa163
The Oliver Whales Allwin looks to be in a Stevenson and Lovett case.
Those metal corner pieces are also on my Conveyor and Super Steeraball.
The cases on my Oliver Whales are oak and so is my Conveyor.

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 8:03 pm
by pennymachines
My Conveyor isn't oak and could in fact be mahogany...

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:29 pm
by geofflove
scorpa163 wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:59 pm The Oliver Whales Allwin looks to be in a Stevenson and Lovett case.
Those metal corner pieces are also on my Conveyor and Super Steeraball.
The cases on my Oliver Whales are oak and so is my Conveyor.
That’s interesting. Could well be the case. Mix and match I guess.

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 10:42 pm
by gameswat
I've had one Conveyor in a solid oak case, and two that were mixed, with same oak outer and probably mahogany doors.

Re: What is your dream machine?

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 2:19 pm
by gameswat
scorpa163 wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:59 pm The Oliver Whales Allwin looks to be in a Stevenson and Lovett case.
Those metal corner pieces are also on my Conveyor and Super Steeraball.
The cases on my Oliver Whales are oak and so is my Conveyor.
I've owned quite a few allwins with those S&L style corner pieces, but they were all plated brass castings, while the originals on my Conveyors were plated steel and not cast but strips spot welded to a backing plate, very nice quality. I always assumed a particular operator liked the look of those corner pieces and had them cast from a steel original, adding them to any brand second hand allwins to make his machines stand out or maybe just easy for him to spot? Pictured below a spare set of originals I sold to a member, wire brushed to remove rust.

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 6:37 pm
by moonriver
gameswat wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:56 pm Don't forget that most of the 1950s Modern Enterprises automatons like Jolly Jack were in mahogany.
Most of mine are made of Walnut.

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 6:49 pm
by 13rebel
Mine certainly isn't mahogany.

Re: Oliver Whales wood?

Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 7:08 pm
by gameswat
Yes, my mistake, been over 20 years since I restored mine and hundreds of other projects have come and gone since so things get easily confused. :burp: