- gameplay_feature
- Spring Bumpers ×13
- ipdb.corporate_entity_name
- Hoopers' Automatics
- ipdb_id
- 6500
- ipdb.image_urls
- ["https://www.ipdb.org/images/6500/image-1.png","https://www.ipdb.org/images/6500/image-4.png","https://www.ipdb.org/images/6500/image-2.png","https://www.ipdb.org/images/6500/image-3.png","https://www.ipdb.org/images/6500/image-5.png"]
- ipdb.notable_features
- 1-cent play (old English penny). Spring bumpers (13). Metal playfield. Rectangular backglass has a round score dial with values from 500 to 25000 in 500-point increments printed around its perimeter. A metal pointer is attached to the center of the dial. A red sign on the backglass covers the top arc of the dial and indicates "Pointer indicates score". Half-size backbox.
- ipdb.notes
- On the wood apron is an oval decal showing the game was "supplied by" Hoopers' Automatics (apostrophe after the s). According to Paul Braithwaite's book, Arcade and Slot Machines, this company started as W. H. Hooper & Sons in 1899 making halfpenny tivolis. They first advertised their name as Hooper's Automatics in 1935 and later became Hooper's Automatic Supply Co., Ltd. We note the placement of the apostrophe in the name Hooper as it appears in this book but we list this manufacturer with its apostrophe at the end of the name as shown on the playfield decal.
The three examples of this game that we have seen did not have any cards on their aprons for instructions or scoring. Other than the oval decal, there are no other words on the games except on the backglass. Until we have more information about this game, we title this listing using the prominent words "Skill Score" appearing on the backglass score dial.
We have no date for this UK game but, in the USA, spring bumpers began appearing on pin games in 1937. Half-size backboxes were no longer used by the end of 1938. The coin slide accepts the older, larger English pennies.
Gary Flower advises us that the N.I. in the manufacturer's address should not be interpreted as Northern Ireland but is, in fact, the postal area N1 for North London.
- player_count
- 1
- technology_generation
- electromechanical