Playbox Amusement Arcade, Shanklin.

Come and play our collection of restored amusement arcade machines from 70s'. Open afternoons from Easter Sunday during fair weather.

A small selection is available to play in our High Street arcade opposite the Tourist Information centre. Open all year.

Part of the Swallow Amusement Machines group.

E-Mail swallow@coin.demon.co.uk

Set on the Esplanade of one of the Islands popular sandy beaches, our Isle of Wight amusement arcade aims to give the best of games past and present. We have been gathering together a collection of older games and fruit machines which have become popular with holiday makers and locals. A working museum, also with some newer modern games. There is a full list of current games with pictures below. We have bought more games which have been restored during the winter and are now ready for the 2006 season. We have also opened an arcade in Shanklin High Street, just opposite the Tourist Information centre which will also host a few older games also. The maps below show you our seafront location and there is a list of links to public transport sites. You can bring the car, travel by train (ticket includes Fastcat crossing) or hovercraft to Shanklin.

Here is a list of all the older games available for play in our collection. I am not to sure of some of the dates, so have had to guess in some cases.

Click on images to enlarge.	Machine.	Back ground information.	Price of Play/Prize
	Cromptons Tooty Fruity 1967	Came with the arcade when I bought it, which kicked the whole retro idea off. There are a few variations of this game, but this is the one I remember playing. The original ones paid on the first 3 or row of 4 lit symbols. This became illegal under the 1968 gaming act which stipulated that you should have a chance of winning on each turn. With an empty board, this was not possible, so they were modified to pay out on just one symbol, the others remaining lit all the time. Most were on 1d or latter 2p play, but this one is on 1p. Play the game here.	1p/10p
	Riviara Cashcendo 1968/75	I don't know much about these, but there are many variations using the same cabinet and mechanism. I think this model was originally made in 1968 and converted in 1975. I bought both these two in good condition, but the chrome has been enamelled.	2p/£1.00
	Bryans Elevensies 1954	One of many games made by the Bryans Works, which was first made in 1955. Originally 1d, now on 2p. The Bryans works kept production of many of their games going right up to November 2000 when the factory was destroyed by fire. Many collectors would have queued to buy new machines had any one realised this was possible. Elevenses was the biggest-selling Allwin of all time..	2p/4p
	Cromptons Tip em Off 1968	An old 1d game where the coins collect on shelves counter balanced by weights. As the coins pile up, the shelf tips over and the coins are paid out. On 1p when I bought it, now on 2p as it works better with the larger coins. Due to the simple coin slots, these will take anything you can feed through the slots.	2p/50p
	Brenco Silver Chest 1972	One of my favourites found in British Rail buffets around the early seventies. Well made electromechanical game converted to take the new 10p coin. The 10p jackpot was all that was legally allowed at the time.	2p/10p
	Bally/Summit Bars and Sevens 1972/82	This Machine is a converted Bally from the 70s'. Starting life as a Casino machine in Nevada, it was bought by Summit and converted in 1982 to a more reliable Bars and Sevens. The mechanical reel unit was replaced with a microprocessor controlled reel and payout unit then sold to a major casino. After video poker became all the rage, it was then sold to an operator in Barbados before being moved on to Ireland set 2p play and operated there. From here it found its way to a flat in London, sold on eBay to finally end up at Shanklin on the Isle of Wight.	2p/£5.00
	Ace Casino Royale 1966	An old 6d jackpot machine. The 320 coin jackpot would have yielded £8.00 in 6d coins. The hold feature which games followed at the time was available for every spin, except after using a hold the previous game or after a win. This explains the lack of a "Hold Now" panel. As I remember, most players were aware of this and didn't cause the confusion it produces today. Also accepted 1/-, 2/- and 2/6 coins. Now on 1p play.	1p/£3.20
	Bell Fruit Lucky Twos 1973	Another massive 10p jackpot game from the early 70s. Originally bought and operated by "Top Twenty Phonograph and Automatic Machine Co. Ltd." later renamed "Phonomatics" which operated from Havant. They had most of the brewery contracts in the grater Portsmouth area through the 70s and 80s. A very common game at the time.	2p/10p
	Wheel of Fortune	New addition for 2009. Previously on old penny made in the mid 60s'. Converted to new penny in 71. Operated in Ireland before returning to England. Now runing on 2p to give it a more authentic feel.	2p/20p
	Bell Fruit Chance a Nudge 1975	Withdrawn. A game from the Bob Thompson auction. This ones been hacked around a bit to make the most of the maximum legal prize being increased from £1 to £2. The tokens are no longer used and is now all cash. This would have had a maximum prize of 50p cash and £1 in re-playable tokens.	5p/£2.00
	Bell Fruit Nudge Gambler 1979	As above, but original payout structure except the removal of the tokens. Now accepts the new 5p, 10p and 50p coins. Sold for £615 from Ruffler and Deith when new.	5p/£1.00
	Bally Las Vegas 1974	From the Bob Thompson auction. Still available in 1976 for £475 Three chips any where in view releases the chip. The player then flicks this like a mini bagatelle and can win 4p or 20p depending where it lands. Originally 5p play, but converted to 2p as no one likes 5p games here. Located in the High Street arcade "Jackpot Amusements".	2p/20p
	Brenco Copper Prince 1972	"Two plays for 1p" I hear them say, well not quite. After inserting your 1p the reels spin and all stop together. If you win, the game pays out and the game ends. If you don't achieve a wining line, you have a few seconds to hold any reels, before the reels automatically spin again.. You then either get a wining line or not. The cycle then stars again. A very popular game.	1p/10p
	Bally Big Barrel. Model 1012. 1974	One of my favourites. A rare floor standing Bally game. The 20p coin win on the feature was originally a 25p coin which you could replay for 13 credits.	2p/20p
	Bally 3 Musketeers.	A conversion of the above game to what was then newer high pay out award of 40p.	2p/40p
	Bally Stars and Stripes 1976	A Bally conversion from another probably better game. Only a few symbols making the game more like a Bar-X game.	2p/50p
	Bally Vegas 1974	From the Bob Thompson auction. This 3 coin multiplier game allows you to stake 1-3 coins. Located in the High Street arcade "Jackpot Amusements".	2p-6p/£5
	Williams El Toro Pintable 1963	Another fine example from the 60s with a Bull Fighting theme. Model No. 284. The game has 2 flippers, 4 pop bumpers, 2 drop targets plus a rotating drum in playfield to indicate target value. Only 1850 of these tables were made.	20p/Replay
	Wondermatics Win and Place 1954	Apparently Wondermatics was owned and run by two gays. With this in mind a closer look at the companies logo on the machine was not quite what you would expect to find on games produced in the 50s. A popular game from my youth with a 6d payout when suitably primed by previous players. Was 1d now working on 2p	2p/12p
	Brenco Two-Reeler 1968	Withdrawn and For Sale. Added to the arcade for 2006, a 1p play game with just two reels. This is the only game of this type I can remember, so I don't think the idea caught on. A few variations with the reels mounted one over the other were made. One called "Snap" and a card game spring to mind. Was originally 1d play, but the mod kit for the payout to 1p does not allow conversion back as it is fixed to the coin size. Random hold, but you can only select 1 reel, not both.	1p/10p
	Games Inc. Casino 1962	Withdrawn and For Sale. What fun it was to get this beast working 99% of the time. Complete with wood worm. Not sure which coin this worked on or the maximum prize due to the glass being hacked to pen in the new lower payouts. Used projection units instead of reels, which were ultimately controlled by reel type units with contacts to control the projector lamps. Also has a gamble feature where wins can be gambled up to three times the original win. Also lights up a "Bonus" lamp with a jackpot win over 100 coins which was paid by an attendant. To comply with 1968 gaming act, all payouts are paid by the machine. Made in the USA and imported to the UK.	1p/£3.00
	Bradlys Challenger.	Located in the High Street arcade "Jackpot Amusements" Window display only for now..	1d/5d
	Auto Fruit	Located in the High Street arcade "Jackpot Amusements" Window display only for now..	1d-1/-
	Games Inc. King Tap. 1970	Withdrawn and For Sale. Using projection units instead of reels, insert 1p and move paddle to "spin reels". Hold any desired symbols and move paddle to "spin again". Wins lines obtained during first "spin" should be held to pay out at end of second "spin". Plays exactly the same as "Miss new penny", a game I remember from the first year of decimalisation.	1p/10p
	Bally Mustang. Model 903. 1970	Sought after three reel game made for the American market with holds and a 200 coin jackpot. No top glass when I rescued this from the Bob Thompson auction, so currently has a print I had made. Top glass wanted if any one has one to spare.	2p/£4
	Bally Medalist. Model 1081. 1975	A popular and rare 5 reel game made for the American market. Actually three 3 reel games in one. Play one coin for reels 1 to 3, two coins for reels 1-3 and 2-4 and three coins to play reels 1-3, 2-4 and 3-5. Confused yet? So playing 3 coins getting first 3 cherries would pay 17 coins. 10 for first game, 5 for second game and 2 for third game. Lots of different pay outs with a complicated win detection circuit. Had one diode short circuit when I got it which with out the schematic would have been very hard to find.	2p-6p/£5
	Cromptons Tooty Fruity, Silver Award.	Light the 4 "Silver Award" lamps on the bottom row for bells and a 50p coin. From Bournemouth seafront arcade. Located in the High Street arcade "Jackpot Amusements".	2p/50p
	Bally Super Line. Model 892. 1971	A 4 reel game made for the American market. Reels pay left to right and right to left. 200 coin jackpot. Also pays 2 coins for any two targets, stars or sevens and 20 coins for any 3 scattered on the win line. A UK version was also made giving a £60 jackpot in 50p coins on 10p play. Located in the High Street arcade "Jackpot Amusements".	2p/£4
	Dennis Jezzard, Tap a Fruit.	Withdrawn. Tap a coin across the first line to light fruit one, the tap across the second line for fruit two then finally across line three for the third fruit symbol. Three of a kind pays posted award.	2p/10p

Useful transport and other links:

Red Funnel Ferries. Southampton.
Wightlink Car Ferry and Fastcat.. Portsmouth and Lymington. Look for special car ferry offers on line.
Island Line trains. Ryde to Shanklin.
Southern Vectis bus services. IOW.
Hover Travel. Southsea to Ryde by Hovercraft.
Park resorts. Look for Lower Hyde at Shanklin.
Tourist information.
Welcome to Shanklin.
Shanklin Chine.
IOW Steam railway.
Isle of Wight nostalgia picture library. Lots of pictures and local history.

Events for 2009:

Shanklin Main Carnival at the Town centre - Wednesday 4th August 2010 from 7:00 to 8:30pm
Shanklin Illuminated Carnival at the Shanklin Town - Saturday 7th August 2010 from 9:00 to 10:30pm
Shanklin Regatta on the Shanklin Esplanade & Beach - Thursday 12 August 2010 from 1:30 pm Sandcastle, & sports competitions, stalls children's crafts and entertainment. Coastguard air and sea rescue display at around 3pm. Fireworks display at 9.30 PM Music and entertainment from 7.30 PM
Full list of Isle of Wight events.

Other locations in the UK featuring vintage arcade games.

This page was last updated 4th April 2010.

E-Mail swallow@coin.demon.co.uk

Copyright © 2003-2010, Swallow Amusement Machines.