Philip Shefras Plentywin

[mikied]

I won this at an auction in Gate, Oklahoma. I’m in need of some advice as to restoration.
1. Will pachinko balls work as the machine has no balls included?
2. What can I substitute for old English pennies as I don’t have any?
3. I appear to have no connection arms to operate the payout slides. What could I fabricate to make it work?
4. I have no key for the front door. Guess I’ll have to drill out.
Any help and advice is welcome.
Thank you from across the pond.

[mikied]

Update on restoration. Pachinko balls will not work. They are too small in diameter. I need to know what the diameter is for the correct balls to be used. An American half dollar will work in place of the English penny so, that problem is solved. My problem over here is finding half dollar coins as most banks don’t like to mess with them, they don’t order them from the Federal Reserve and when they do get them they turn them back into the government. I’ve figured a solution for the lock….I can cut the latch with a metal saw. It’ll take some time but, it can be done. Any suggestions on the arm to operate the payout slides would be appreciated. Thanks!

[coppinpr]

Balls are available in the UK. They do vary between machines but once you know the size you can either buy direct from eBay UK or one of us can send to you no problem. Same goes for 1d coins. I'll be only too happy to send you a dozen for just the cost of the postage if that helps. Let me know.

The arm you are missing is quite a simple affair but it's not a machine I have ever owned so you need someone to send you photos so you can make one. If you look at the Shefras collection on my website there are a couple of photos of the insides. Not all that revealing but they might help https://www.penny-arcade.info/the-shefras-collection-
The machine looks in excellent condition and looks to have a spare slide and the variable payout readout across the win holes. I like it!!

[mikied]

Thanks for the reply. I’m rapidly figuring out the workings. My main problem, that has me stumped, is the size of the balls. There is a local ball bearing distribution dealer here if I knew the size. My coin problem has been solved. Best to you!

[coppinpr]

The balls should be easy to at least get a clue, the gap between the pins on the ball gallery is a bit of a giveaway. you need a ball that JUST fits, As I said I've never had one of these,I do have three different allwin balls in front of me and they measure .50" .52" and .55"

[special when lit]

Most allwin balls are 9/16", or 14mm will do.
As for the lock, can't you get to the mounting screws from the inside?

[mikied]

I’m at this point in my restoration. Wood frame will be sanded and a couple of coats of varnish will be applied. Playfield needs cleaning. Balls should be delivered today. I’m still figuring making fingers to work the payout slides. I am having a good time working on this.

[treefrog]

There are two types of pay levers on these machines. One has a hook on the end, but should be easy to make. I had do this myself out of brass as operators often removed the pay options in favour of their pocket.

Locks are fairly standard on 1950s Allwins across a few manufacturers and difficult to find. Usually Yale like below and the keys like below. Also easy to make keys. I use my spares to make them for the relevant lock.

[mikied]

Thanks for the suggestion. I also was thinking of brass for the pay levers. I’m not going to put locks back on. I’ve been thinking about using some “southern engineering" to keep the door closed. Since this is for home entertainment I’m not concerned with 100% correct. Looking nice and reliable operation is my concern.

[pennymachines]

I’ve figured a solution for the lock….I can cut the latch with a metal saw.

Maybe too late to say, but I think it would be a shame to do that. These locks aren't hard to pick.

I’m not going to put locks back on.

Again, a shame not to, as they're part of the original machine, like its other metal fittings.

[mikied]

I do understand the interest in keeping the lock as part of the original machine. I do have the parts to fabricate the part that was cut. The lock at the bottom of the machine has already been busted out and thrown away before I bought it. Anyway, I’m still working on fabricating arms to operate the payout slides. Also the ball shooting mechanism and track need adjustment. The challenges continue. I appreciate all the help you folks have offered.

[pennymachines]

The brass payout linkages look like this:

[mikied]

My Plentywin machine is missing the fingers needed to operate the payout slides. I’ll need to make the parts to complete the rebuild. A photo would be helpful so I could southern engineer something that would work. Thanks in advance.

[treefrog]

Pennymachines did respond in July, see below

Now merged above - Site Admin.

[antarion]

Post merged - Site Admin.

Hi, I need your help. I'm from Italy and I recently bought an allwin machine. It seems to be a Plentywin, but there are some missing parts, for example the hopper and the third payout lever. Do you know if is it possibile to find these replacements? Which Is the right metal ball to use? (Diameter, Weight, etc). The backflash seems to be a print on paper with a plastic panel as protection. Do you think is original or not?
The top flash is missing. How can I replace it?
Which coins should I use to play with this allwin machine?
Thank you in advance.

[special when lit]

The coin tube should be easy to make. You just need a short length of tube of the right diameter for old pennies with a couple of plates welded on.
I used 14mm ball bearings in my Jackpot allwin, made by the same company.
Backflash looks to be original. As for top flash, give Paul Coppin on here a message. He can probably make one for you.

[pennymachines]

Welcome to the Forum, antarion!
I've sent you the password to the Plentywin top glass graphic in Resources, as requested.
The flashes on these are paper/card with a plastic laminate covering, so yours, as special says, looks original. The top glasses were screen printed directly onto the glass. With some craft skills, using hand cut stencils and spray paint, these can be convincingly replicated.
The coin is the old British penny, which is still readily obtainable.

[antarion]

Thank you for the informations. In order to make the missing hopper and plates, could you please send me some detailed pictures of that mechanism in your allwin so I can try to recreate it?

Is it possible to find the original lock somewhere?

In addition, looking at my Plentywin I've noticed that someone has reduced the hole to insert coins, probably to fit the new pennies' size after 1971 I guess. I send you the photo.
In the payout lever is present a metal look, too. I think it was added.

[pennymachines]

Is it possible to find the original lock somewhere?

Not easy. This is what it looks like. See also comments earlier in this topic.

In addition, looking at my Plentywin I've noticed that someone has reduced the hole to insert coins, probably to fit the new pennies' size after 1971 I guess.

That is easy to remedy with a metal file. Use an old penny to measure how much metal to remove.

In order to make the missing hopper and plates, could you please send me some detailed pictures of that mechanism in your allwin so I can try to recreate it?

The one below is from the Jackpot allwin, which I'm guessing is identical. It consists of 3 parts: a cast aluminium body with four holes which locate over the four small vertical pegs (3 visible in your picture); a thin brass 1 & 1/4" diameter tube set into this casting; a folded and soldered brass tray. The brass tray has an aperture which is soldered flush with the bevelled top edge of the tube. It has springs (attached by screw and nuts) to both sides. These hook onto the two long horizontal pegs, keeping the payout hopper in place (yours has only one horizontal peg, I see, which is probably sufficient). As mentioned, the top of the tube is bevelled (the rear taller than the front) so the tray slopes downward, guiding overflow coins to the cashbox.

[antarion]

Thank you very much for the detailed pictures. I'm not so good in metalworking. Is anyone of you able to produce this part so I can buy it?

As for the old pennies, can any of you sell them to me or can I find them on Ebay?

I need an advice: if I remove the plastic laminate covering in order to clean it, do I risk damaging the original print beneath?