The Whirlygig fortune teller

[bob]

I also had another Bradfort machine, a Love Test. I obtained this in the largest bunch of coin op machines that I ever got which took years to consummate. This collection included a rare Bryan’s crane in a wooden cabinet, Arnolds English Execution, 2 early countertop Mutoscopes in wooden cabinets, but again that’s another story for another day.

The Super Love Test, a companion to the Bradfort Gypsy had been converted when I got it, from “spinning” through a number of choices (ie flashing various light globes to settling in one result by a mechanical mechanism) to rather boringly, just going to one light bulb and lighting it for a set brief period. It had a Formica alteration in its centre front which I left unaltered. I think this eliminated separate men’s and women’s coin entries.

It was most unusual for a wall machine, clearly meant to be screwed onto a wall, in that the only way to get at the mechanism was to unscrew the machine from the wall and unlock its back door to access the mechanism. Fortunately in 20 years of operation at a busy city location, I never had occasion to do this.

In order to replace the “attract” light, a 240 volt pilot lamp which was on all the time, or one of the 6 volt globes, I would have to unscrew the roof of the machine and take the silk screened glass out in order to accomplish this. Similarly the original Bradfort Gypsy, but not my copies of it, was in a cabinet that was only accessible by taking it off the wall and unlocking the back door.

[pennymachines]

Bradfort isn't obscure...

OK, so you've done some research since I asked you 10 years ago if you had any info on Bradfort:

No, I'm afraid I don't. I had tried for many years to find more information on Bradfort, but they seem to be another coin-op manufacturer that have disappeared into obscurity.

I knew Bradmatics was a Bradley offspring and thought Bradfort might be Birmingham-based. Also, Baby Bradwin cabinets somewhat resemble Bradfort love tests. Do you have some paperwork/machine label linking Bradfort to Bradley? Paul Braithwaite doesn't make the connection.

Sweetmeats reminded me yesterday that I'd seen his Whirlygig when I visited years ago. He'll post a picture of it here.

Thank you for your interesting input joerg. I loved the Lochmann Whirlygig advert and great to see a little video of it in action. I've put a link to the German Automata Museum in Archive/Locations and to their open day on November 10 in the Calendar.

[JC]

OK, so you've done some research since I asked you 10 years ago if you had any info on Bradfort:

Not exactly research, rather found out by chance. If you look at the youtube video of the Sotheby auction, posted by Gameswat recently, you'll see briefly a four-square type cabinet with four Bradfort machine fronts (sandwiched between two Bollands models). I too have one of these, but unfortunately just the case - the four doors had previously been removed and built into four individual allwin-style cases. Anyway, at the top of the case was a large light box with bulb holders and fuses, and affixed also is a Bradmatics label. We already knew that Bradmatics was a Bradley company or trading name, so the connection with Bradfort just fell into place.
Funny thing is, I'm sure I discussed this with you a good number years ago, probably not long after my 'I haven't got a clue' post. I guess as we are of a similar age, you've either forgotten, or I've forgotten that we hadn't .

Jerry

P.S. I knew it would happen - we've hijacked Bob's Whirligig topic (although in fairness, he joined in too). It's interesting that Bob made the same observation about the impractical case design as I did ten years ago.

[daveslot]

Is this the case?
Also I have owned a Whirlygig, came off the owners of the Brillscote Farm Auction, Malmesbury, remember them? Can't find a pic though.

[moonriver]

OK, so you've done some research since I asked you 10 years ago if you had any info on Bradfort

No that was Gerry with a G that said that.

[JC]

Is this the case?

Not actually that case, but one like it.

[bob]

Interesting to see what my Love Test would have looked like originally before they converted it to one coin entry etc.
Here's a photo of the Original Bradfort Gypsy mechanical fortune-teller with a the same coin entry as on the Love Test. I used this machine to copy the graphics for my electro mechanical fortune-tellers. Note that as on the Love Test access to the mechanism could only be gained by removing the machine from the wall and unlocking the back door. Access from the front was only to the cash box.

It would have been Sweetmeats who sent me the photos of the fortunes on his machine that enabled me to make my machine look more like the original. Thanks again for your help.

[sweetmeats]

I acquired the Whirlygig in 1995 from Daveslot. The picture Bob has must have come from me, although I don't remember sending it, but would be before 1999 from the picture. Below is a much better picture. The front of the case is bigger than the box behind, so the machine was supported on two piles of pennies to take the picture. The machine itself has a cast iron frame with a mirror at the top. The case is welded sheet iron with the front hinged to one side to the front and a lock to the other. It remains one of my favourite machines. After I acquired it I asked for advice on cleaning the lithograph but the best advice seemed be - do nothing! So I just waxed and polished the case and have not touched in since.

[pennymachines]

Here's the one from the recent Dutch sale, with text in Dutch.