The History of the British Coin Machine Industry coin machine distributors through the trade paper...
Transcript of The History of the British Coin Machine Industry coin machine distributors through the trade paper...
The History of the British Coin Machine Industry By Freddy Bailey Part One.
The first British Coin Machine Industry Trade Shows. In 1934 several coin machine distributors displayed their machines at The
Brewer’s Exhibition in London, The Shefras Novelty Company of 54-55 Fetter
Lane, E.C. 4. was one of the first to exhibit at this show.
Solly Shefras was so impressed with the volume of orders his company generated
by this exhibition that he saw a need to have an all coin operated machine trade
show, he encouraged the Editor of “The World’s Fair” trade paper to question the
various coin machine distributors through the trade paper to see if in fact there
would be any interest in such an event.
In February 1935 the first British Coin Machine Show was born, it was organized
by B.A.M.O.S the British Trade Association at the time, Phillip Shefras was then
President of the association and Edward Grieves of “The World’s Fair” organized
the event, at that show there was a total of 28 exhibitors.
It was held at the Royal Hotel and a luncheon was organized by the association,
by 1937 the show had grown and was moved to the Royal Horticultural Hall, in
1939 just prior to England entering World War II, the show was poorly
supported and the new Amusement Caterers Association who had put on the 1939
show, did not put on another exhibition until after World War II, at that time the
association had also held what was to become their annual Banquet at the
Grosvenor House Hotel,
Since 1947 the show then known as the Amusement Trades Exhibition as been
held in several venues, it is still recognized World Wide as the most important
coin machine trade show in the World, (The only other show that exhibits coin
operated machines that is more attended is I.A.P.P.A )
Freddy Bailey
Solly Shefras of Shefras Automatics Ltd, at the Brewery Exhibition in the early 1930’s.
The name of Shefras to the British Coin Machine Industry is like Nintendo is to Video
Games.
Solly Shefras was a real pioneer, he was one of the first people in the British coin machine
industry to visit the United States trade shows as early as 1929, this experience must have
showed him the true value of a trade show for coin operated machines, there was a
member of the Shefras family involved in the industry from the founding days of
B.A.M.O.S to the present day association known as B.A.C.T.A
After Solly who was a founder member of B.A.M.O.S passed away, his son’s Maurice and
Phillip were very active at the committee levels of the Amusement Trades Association, the
Amusement Caterers Association and B.A.C.T.A as well as Euro mat the European trade
association, Maurice’s son Michael was the last of the Shefras’s to hold the office of
President at B.A.C.T.A
The British Coin Machine Show in 1935 was the most important trade show
in the World, not because of its size, but because of the Geographic’s, it was
relatively easy for the European visitors to get to, whereas the Chicago Trade
Show although much larger, it was impossible for International visitors to go to,
as there was virtually no air travel and travel by ship took more than two weeks,
this was also why after the first British Coin Machine Show, saw the absence of
many of the American at future shows, but they were all represented by their
appointed British distributors.
Above, Bryan’s Automatic Works at the 1936 British Coin Machine Exhibition.
Below, Bryan’s Automatic Works at the 1962 Amusement Trades Exhibition
Ralph Horwitz “Chicago Automatic Supply Company” at the A.T.E 1950’s
“Special Award” to Ralph Horwitz of Chicago Automatics Supply Co, 1988
Traveling Showman Arthur Webber, with Solly and Brian Parker of Parker
Automatic Supplies, at the A.T.E at the Horticultural Hall in London 1956-7
Golding Automatics at the 1962 A.T.E. Roy Ruffler, Fred Walker, Gordon Walker, Len Cullum 1962.
Derek and Mark Kraft at the A.T.E 1962 Cyril Shack and Bernard Briggs at the A.T.E 1962
Sam Kline (Bally) Cyril Shack (Phonographic) with Billy O’Donnell( Bally) Gordon Marks &
Michael Green of Phonographic A.T.E 1964
Hal Eldridge of Ainsworth at the A.T.E in 1964 John Singleton with German visitors to A.T.E 1964
John Enticknap with Traveling lady, Mrs. Parrish. Phillip Shefras with B.A.C directors A.T.E 1964
John Singleton Secretary to the board of A.T.E in the 1960’s
A view of the show floor at the 20th, Amusement Trades Exhibition in 1962
Above, the A.T.E in its hey dayin the 1960’s. Below Visitors from to the A.T.E from Europe and U.S.A
Maury Sykes of Mar-Matic at A.T.E 1964 Dave Laren with AMI Continental, A.T.E 1962
Roy Deeming, Pat Marsh, Tony Marsh at A.T.E 1984 Alfie Katz with Guests A.T.E 1984
Above, eldest son Simon Deith, Bob Deith, Matthew Deith and Leon Deith.
No British trade show would have been complete witout the presence of the late Bob Deith, for
more than 40 years Bob Deith was seen at virtually every trade show around the World.
All of Bob’s three son’s have followed in their late fathers footsteps and have served in the coin
machine industry.
I end this chapter of the History of the British Coin Machine Industry, with
a sad and heavy heart and pay tribute to an old and dear friend who
passed away just a few months ago on March 6th, 2015.......the one and the
only Bob Deith.
Rest in peace my old friend.
Freddy Bailey