Welcome to "Bally Bingo's in Britain" and the latest from the UK Bally bingo scene.
Frans and Coos from the Netherlands have been doing some great work on some superb new replacement buttons and metalwork for bingo lockdown bars. Check them out using this link http://www.coos.net/ , it is in Dutch and English.
The picture is of a bingo that has recently been added to my collection. It came into the U.K. in a container shipped from the U.S. in 2003 by John from Newark. After some cosmetic work it was bought by Steve in Lancs and later moved across the Penines to Dave in Wakefield. It was then sold on Ebay to Baz in Durham who after a while sold it again on Ebay to Neil in the West Midlands. It then had a short visit to the bingo hospital here at my home and then went back to the Midlands for another year. Sadly the backglass had deteriorated badly and I took it in as a part exchange on another bingo and took the opportunity to do a bit of file manipulation for the new backglass.
Yes I'm sure you've spotted my vain attempt at bingo fame by re-naming a Dude Ranch to my family name of Dade.
Bingovit from Belgium has sent details of a bingo and pinball event that he is holding in Belgium on the 23rd and 24th of August. The pinball event is on the Saturday and the bingo event is on Sunday so please checkout the attachment for details
I have attached Joe Shope's parts list in an Adobe file for easy download. Joe will be only to pleased to help with your Bally bingo parts.
Click this link for a selection of pictures from the Pat's Cafe 2008 meeting. The pictures are so good I have decided to award everyone free entry to the cafe next year. The witty remarks on some of the pictures are nothing to do with me so if anyone is offended I will not disclose Johns name.
Welcome to new owner Eric from West London who has just taken delivery of a Silver Sails from our friends in the Netherlands. Eric is delighted with his new bingo and say's "This is the first of many".
CLICK HERE FOR HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
This line up is some of the attendees of the Pats Cafe annual meet. Those missing were either camera shy or had to leave early. Thanks to John for the picture.
What a day! The annual meeting at Pats Cafe was the best yet with a good mix of owners, restorers, future owners and just fans who had not even seen a bingo for 35 years. Please forward any pictures to chris@ballybingo.co.uk and I will put a selection together for the site in a few days. Thanks to Barry, John and Frans who have already sent some great pictures of the day and the best picture qualifies for free entry to the cafe next year. Special thanks to our friends from the Netherlands for their usual enthusiasm and the help and advice offered and John from Wellingborough whose wife Katherine kindly took the ladies on a trip to Blickling Hall. It was also a pleasure to see Peter Hoebert who has the largest collection of bingos in Europe and probably the world with over 200 machines. Peter is mentioned many times in Jeffrey Lawton's Bally bingo book and to get here was his first experience of driving on the left and to top that he came through the Dartford crossing on the M25 at 4.00pm on a Friday. What a man!
On another note the hit counter has passed the 10,000 hit mark and the rumour that 9,000 of them are mine is not true as my own hits do not count. Thanks to all of the regular and occasional visitors.
Well "The Twist" tale takes another turn, sadly Allen, who has only owned the machine for a couple of weeks, has had to offer it for sale on ebay. Often people buy a bingo and after owning it for a year or two the novelty wears off but I must say that two weeks is now the current record.
If you need any hard to get spares then why not contact Joe Shope from Utah in the U.S. bingo55joe@hotmail.com for all sorts of NOS and used parts. Joe accepts Paypal and will ship to any part of the world and only charge reasonable shipping costs. Please remember that you may have to pay U.K. duty if the value of the goods exceed the amount allowed by H.M. Customs.
Welcome to new owner Allen from Kettering who has just acquired The Twist (I always like a story with a happy ending).
Talking of The Twist, Kevin from Camberley has recently listed The Twist on ebay. It is modestly priced but in need of major restoration work so please don't bid on it if you cannot carry out the repairs. A new glass can be made using my backglass inner and outer prints and laminating them between two pieces of 3mm glass.
A bingo called The Twist was recently offered on ebay and during the last minutes of the auction it became a fight between two bidders finally ending up with someone using the ID power_mighty winning at £2000. Now comes "the twist", the following morning the under bidder received an email giving a "second chance" opportunity to buy it for £1900. The bingo remains unsold.
Another cautionary tale is to beware if ordering any parts from Marco in the US. One of our forum members recently ordered two coils at $7.95 each (about £9 for the two) and got stung $40 shipping charges which should have been about $10 at USPS rates. To make matters worse the shipping was declared as part of the value and he also got charged VAT and collection fees. (The post office charges £8 and you have to go to the sorting office to get the package).
More playfields added to the collection, Show Time, Sun Valley and Variety and having just completed a Big Time overlay I have put together a Fitting Instructions guide using pictures and simple instructions.
I have been authorised by Alan from Ace Pins in the U.S. to distribute the DVD's of his Bally Bingo service guide Vol. 1 & 2. They are a must for both new and experienced bingo owners and cost £15.00 inc P&P. Email me for details.
I am looking forward to the annual meet up at Pat's Cafe and it looks like it's going to be the best turnout yet. Our friends Frans and Ed will be coming from the Netherlands along with Peter Hoebert who is a well known contributor to Jeffrey Lawton's Bally Bingo book.
Graham, a forum member from Birmingham, is selling his Broadway and can be contacted by email grsimmonds@hotmail.co.uk
Freddy Bailey, an ex. pat. "bingo buddy" from the U.S. is shortly publishing a book about his 50 years in the gaming machine industry. I have attached a publicity flyer which he has sent to me so if you are interested in a copy then please let me know.
Now that we have some decent Spring weather I have come out of hibernation and arranged the Pat's Cafe annual visit. Unfortunately Steve is unable to open on Sunday this year so we will be meeting up on Saturday 14th June.
Welcome to new owner Steve from Coventry who has recently acquired a 1957 Miss America. Two other machines have been sold recently, a Cypress Gardens and a Carnival Queen. Perhaps the new owners will get in touch so that I can update the locations database.
I recently sold a Bally Bingo clock on Ebay and several people have made contact and asked if there are any more so I have made a few which will be sold on a first come first served basis. They are £12.00 each with £2.50 P&P (recorded delivery). For Europe and International please email. No extra for Paypal.
The clock has an overall width of 260mm and takes one AA battery (not supplied). A clock with a choice of backglasses can be supplied for an extra £5.00.
I've finally got around to finishing off my Frolics, it has been quite a long process with all the cabinet wiring needing replacement as the cloth covered wire had disintegrated, and the playfield needed a replacement. The first part was relatively easy but the playfield problem has lead me to make digital replacements. Click on the Playfield button to see my progress so far.
Welcome to new owner David from the West Midlands who is now the proud owner of a Key West.
This shocking picture taken after a fire in an outbuilding at the home of Kevin from Surrey shows what can happen to a collection of lovingly restored machines when fire takes hold. The cause is still under investigation but whatever the outcome, some bingo's will be lost forever and money alone will not replace them. I know that many owners, including myself, keep their prized machines in wooden outbuildings in the garden so make sure that you are always on your guard and keep an extinguisher and a hose reel at the ready. My sympathies go out to Kevin on behalf of you all.
On a brighter note I spent three days in the Netherlands last week with my good friends Frans, Ed and Peter where I managed to scan some more playfields for digital reproduction. Those acquired so far are Miss America 57, Frolics, Lido, Palm Springs, Sun Valley, Beach Club, Broadway, Carnival Queen, Circus Queen, County Fair, Cypress Gardens, Key West and Show Time. Many thanks for the hospitality received especially to Frans and his wife Dini who looked after me during my stay.
Welcome to new owner John from Northampton who recently collected his newly restored Key West from the Mechelen Show.
Well it's back to reality again after celebrating the New Year on the magnificent ship Norwegian Jewel in the Caribbean.
I am now looking to increase the number of playfield overlays to match the backglasses where possible so if anyone has one that they need then please make contact and I will do my best to get hold of it. Some of my "bingo buddies" have been in touch and I will be scanning and digitizing several over the coming weeks.
Still more bingo's being sold on Ebay so if you are a new owner or have had one for a while please let me know so that I can update the owners / locations list.
I have been working on the Frolics playfield with the new stick on surface. The people at the printers helped by sticking the print onto the playfield for me( it's easy when you know how ) which was a great help in getting me started. I have taken several pictures of the process and I will put a complete section about it on the site after Christmas. Please email me with any comments or questions.
Note: If anyone in the UK has any old playfields that I can scan then please email me chris@ballybingo.co.uk
Before After
Check out Peter Hoeberts website with lots of pictures of his fabulous collection of classic slot machines and games, the site is in Dutch and English. Welcome to new owner Jim from South who has just bought a Variety.
I have been informed by Jeffrey Lawton that Russ Jensen has passed away recently. I am sure that many of the visitors to my website will have read some of the many articles on pinballs and bingos that Russ had made freely available to us all. He will be sadly missed.
Well Autumn (the "Fall" for our U.S. readers) is upon us and I will be spending less time in my cabins playing the bingo's and other slots that I have. Sadly as I get older I feel the cold more and enjoy working outside less. Anyway enough of my wittering and back to the bingo news. You know what they say about buses "None come for ages and then three all turn up together" well now believe it or not there are three Bally Variety's on ebay at the same time.
New owners are Graham from Birmingham who has recently bought a Broadway and Palm Springs and John from Bolton has acquired a Sun Valley for his collection. Does anyone know the new owner of the Silver Sails bought for £921 on ebay recently.
Our good friend Frans has achieved fame on national TV in the Netherlands. In a programme about unusual hobbies, Frans is featured showing his collection and explaining about Bally bingo's to a reporter. Follow the link to view the programme www.eo.nl/media/spelert.jsp?-aflid=8804467 . It is in Dutch but I am sure that you will be able to get the gist of what is being said.
Welcome to John from Bolton who has just bought a Miss America Supreme from Belgium.
More top prices paid for bingo's on Ebay show that there is an ever growing demand for the lovely old machines, I just hope that their new owners are willing to learn how to repair and maintain them. Welcome to new owner Steve from Heysham Lancs. who has just bought himself a Night Club.
Four more bingo's listed on Ebay this week, another Golden Gate , Broadway , Orient and a six card machine called Six Shots
Pat's Cafe pictures posted please click on link below. The Night Club (1956 not 1952) listed on Ebay has made an amazing £1320, I hope that the new owner will make contact so that they can be added to the owners list.
Click here to view pictures from Pats Cafe 2007
Hi again to all you bingo fans out there. All of the usual excuses for slacking on the website but I will try and do better in future. Kevin from Sudbury (Suffolk) has recently bought a Big Show and is now in the process of a restoration. Mal from South London has acquired a Beach Time (lucky sod) which brings his collection to three, another shed now Mal? I have also recently picked up a Broadway which is in lovely condition apart from the cabinet graphics so that's another paint job on the list and believe it or not I now have another Summer House which will give me room to house fifteen bingos and other slot machines. Currently only ten are up and running but I hope to have the others ready by this time next year. Visitors welcome by prior arrangement.
I have also digitized another four backglasses bringing the total to fifty, I would like to do Beauty Beach when the opportunity comes but any others will only be done by request.
The Forum seems to be working better now and Pat's Cafe pictures will be posted next week.
Thanks for the emails about the day at Pat's Cafe. I'm so pleased that everyone had a good day and I certainly hope that you can all make it again next year.
Peter Hoebert has given permission for the pictures of his games room to be shown on this website. I'm sure that you will all be amazed as I was when I saw this fabulous collection of old gaming machines.
Click here to view pictures from Peter Hoebert's Games Room
Well done to all of you who made yesterday another successful annual meet at Pat's Cafe. I am impressed that so many people travel such a long way to Norwich from all over the UK and the Netherlands. More pictures from the day to follow but here's one for starters.
(Picture courtesy Barry King)
I recently enjoyed a short cruise with my good lady and this included a day in Amsterdam where my good friend Frans arranged a visit to Peter Hoeberts home and warehouse. Well I was amazed at the collection of 1950's and 60's amusement machines at Peters home and with his permission I will put some pictures on the site soon. Many thanks to Frans and Dini, Ed and Paulien, Peter and Ina for giving up their day for Paulette and myself.
Spring is with us again and we are only five weeks away from the annual meet at Pat's Cafe on Sunday the 17th of June. The address for Pat's Cafe is 65 Hall Road Norwich NR1 3HL and it will be open from 09.30am for breakfasts and refreshments. Please make the effort to come and meet fellow enthusiasts from all over the UK and some from Europe Our friends Ed and Frans from the Netherlands will be joining us again this year and will be pleased to help out with spares where possible, please email me with a list of parts required to chris@ballybingo.co.uk and they will do their best to bring them over. Welcome to new owner Graham from Cleveland who has recently purchased a Laguna Beach on Ebay and now has the pleasure of getting it to work and restoring it to its former glory after 20 years in a Cafe and having cigarettes stubbed out all over the cabinet. Best wishes also to Barry from Tamworth who has just got his Big Time out of storage after eight years and found that the roof of shed had been leaking and the damp has taken its toll on the cabinet
Hi again folks! Another long gap between postings but sadly I too have to earn a living and this is one of two very busy times that I have each year. I did however manage a well deserved break in Las Vegas beforehand. I had an opportunity to visit the "Pinball Hall of Fame" where I was made very welcome by the guy who was working there, I have forgotten his name but it is something that seems to happen more regularly as I approach my late fifties. I also got some strange looks from the counter staff when I went into a bank and asked for 30 Dollars in Nickels.
Welcome to Shaun from Evesham with his Big Show to the ever growing band of bingo owners and enthusiasts.
I have managed to complete the restoration of a 1951 Spot Lite which is now the pride of my collection. Many thanks to David and Kevin for making this possible.
Things are going well with my attempt to digitize 50 backglasses. I only have another two or three left to complete my task. I will still try and do others by request, subject to obtaining the originals to scan.
Our friend and regular contributor Freddy Bailey from the U.S. (formerly Norfolk U.K.) has now made his own website which I am sure will be of interest to bingo fans. Click on the link to visit his site www.jukeboxes-r-us.com
Most of the people who contacted me about the date for the annual get together at Pat's Cafe preferred the 17th of June so that will be the date for 2007. Sorry to those who preferred the 10th.
Welcome to new bingo owner Neil from Tipton who has just bought a Dude Ranch and Miss America 57. Hopefully he will be joining us at Pat's Cafe in June.
Here we are again and time to think about the year ahead. Pat's Cafe is on the agenda again this year and this will probably be on the 10th or 17th of June, please email your preferred date and I will go with the majority.
Welcome to new bingo owners Steve from Uxbridge (Sun Valley) and Richard from Poole (Big Show). There are several bingo's that have been sold recently so please let me add you to the list.
Thanks to all that have bought clothing and mugs from Cafepress in the US, there is a small mark up on each item which is purely to cover the cost of the on-line store which I will continue to fund for the rest of the year. With the pound riding high against the US dollar their products of good quality and shipping is very competitive. Payment can be made by credit card and provided that the order value is under £18 ($35) there is no liability to pay VAT. I am also negotiating with a company here in the UK to supply mugs with backglass images printed on them.
My good friends Frans and Ed from the Netherlands have now launched their own website named "Bally Bingo's in Holland" so please go and check it out.
There are a number of new images listed in the backglass section. I have now completed all the Magic Screen games and there are only about another 5 or 6 to complete the task. I have not bothered too much with 6 card and Mystic Line games as they aren't that many in the UK and mostly the glasses are in good condition. I will always consider doing others if I can get scans for them so please ask.
I have changed the spares section to pricing without P&P. Postage and packing will be charged at actual cost due to the new range of Royal Mail charges that in some cases have made it cheaper to send two packages instead of one.
Hi everyone and usual apologies for the long gap since the previous posting.
My usual excuse is that I have too much to do and not enough time to do it and
that has not changed. I am sure that Brian, David and Kevin who bought the
container of bingo's from the USA, will know exactly what I mean. I have now
included a "Spares" section on the site with some bingo consumables
that are needed from time to time, I have kept the prices as competitive as
possible but I have to make a modest profit. I need to update the list of
owners as there have been a few changes and please note that the backglass
information has changed.
I am no longer
supplying the vinyl prints for the front of the glass as some of them look faded
especially when compared to the photo prints and I have stopped selling the
smaller A3 prints for framing as some people are having them blown up to full size.
I have spent up to 100 hours on each print and feel that my charges need to include
some return for my effort.
I am also negotiating with a
company to supply bingo related tee shirts, sweatshirts and other merchandise.
They will be sent direct from the suppliers at very competitive prices and
reasonable shipping costs. More info soon, hopefully in time to buy the wife a
Bally bingo tee-shirt for Christmas.
Well done to Brian, David
and Kevin who have recently taken delivery of a container full of bingos direct
from the good old USA and I thank them for making me welcome on a visit last
week. They have quite a mixed bunch of machines and spare parts so check the
forum and Ebay to see what's on offer.
I have recently
purchased eight bingos from the partner of the late Steve Ingle of
Kidderminster. He had bought them for restoration and I intend to complete them
in his memory. Some of the machines will be offered for sale when they are
completed so please make contact if interested in buying one. They are Miss
America 57, Acapulco, Laguna Beach, Sea Island, Lido and Shoot a Line. The
others will be joining my own collection.
Backglass prints currently
being worked on are:- Bikini, Show Time and Roller Derby. Big Wheel and The
Twist are now complete.
The heat wave so far this
month has held up my work on restoration due to the intense heat under a corrugated
roof.
