A Mid 20thC Fortune Telling Slot Machine; Heaven and Hell by Frederick Bolland c.1952

Origin: American
Period: Mid 20thC
Provenance: Uncle Arthurs Amusements Ltd, Skegness, UK
Date: c.1952
Height: 21”
Width: 15”
Depth: 6.5”

The wonderfully engaging tabletop 1d, or one Britsh half-penny, coin-operated Heaven and Hell fortune telling machine, produced by Bollands Amusement Machine Supply Co. in 1952 by Frederick Bolland of the USA, and once used in Uncle Arthurs Amusements Ltd, Skegness, UK, the good oak case with a central glazed circle with half heaven and half hell sections showing fortune choices chosen by a hand turned arrow via the knob, once chosen the penny is inserted, it drops into a hopper and then to a ringing bell and then the machine gives an answer to the square glazed panel above from YES, NO and MOST LIKELY.

The mechanism is working and has not been restored. The oak case is of a super colour and all of the glass and metal detailing is original. The sloped top opens to reveal the mechanism and the front pulls upwards. The locks are present to both sides but the key is lacking and the case is marked as No.33. Perhaps once in ten attempts the mechanism fails but it works nine times out of ten. Eight half pennies are also provided. See short video for operation.

Bollands Amusement Machine Supply released 20 machines under this trade name, starting in 1937. Bollands Amusement Machine Supply was based in United States. Other machines made by Bollands Amusement Machine Supply during the time period Heaven & Hell was produced include: Haunted House, The, Haunted Graveyard, The, La Guillotine, Stereo Picture Box, Drunkards Dream, Haunted Churchyard, Nightwatchman, Predicta, and Oracle.

“Along the sea front ran the ancient charabancs with their bench seats stretching the width of the vehicles. It cost a penny to ride from the Clock Tower all the way to Uncle Arthur’s, the amusement park opposite the Derbyshire Miners’ Home at the north end of the sands.” Uncle Arthur's Amusements Ltd also applied for a site on the foreshore to establish a roller skating rink, at a rental or on sharing terms in 1951.

An incredibly addictive tabletop delight with provenance and one that is also beautifully decorative, making a superb gift.