Dad and son hit jackpot after arcade video games assortment turns into UK’s largest

A father and son duo have struck gold selling the UK’s largest private collection of classic arcade games at auction.

They’ve cashed in a staggering sum of over £80,000.

Ken Jackson, 89, and his son Stewart, 49, dedicated nearly four decades to restoring a variety of historic slot machines, dating from the 1890s to the 1970s.

The pair amassed an impressive collection of 82 arcade games and one-arm bandits during their 34-year hobby, including a relic from Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The decision to part with the machines came as they planned to downsize their house, leading to the items going under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers this week (Thurs).

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The Jacksons were left in high spirits after their collection achieved a hammer total of nearly £64,000, with the total including buyers premium exceeding £80,000. Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, expressed: “Life can be a gamble but the Jacksons’ lifelong love for slot machines proved to be a winner.”

“”He added: “It was a fantastic sale of an iconic collection. These beautiful works of art lit up the saleroom. They showcased decades of design.”

He further stated: “We’re always thrilled to handle objects of luxury and lifestyle. Vintage amusement machines have become a new stylish must-have in modern homes celebrating a golden age.”

Hanson also noted: “The first one-armed bandit appeared in San Francisco in 1895 invented by Charles August Fey but, as this auction shows, they’re still on trend today.”

Buyers from France, Belgium, Ireland and the UK all participated in the bidding war during the sale, which took place in Derbyshire.

The highest bid was a staggering £7,000 for a 1946 Jennings Prospector Club Console Machine, adorned with ‘Nevada Club’, first introduced in 1946 and boasting a jackpot of $1,000 in coins.

A rare 1970 Bryans Works Penny Go Round fetched £5,500 – only two or three are believed to exist.

Other top earners included a Chicago-made Bally Manufacturing Company Reliance Dice 1936 Craps Game, which raked in £3,400.

A Bryans Works Double Decker 1969 wall coin pusher scored £2,200 while a 1950 Pee Jay Manufacturing Company Steer-a-Ball bagged £1,600.

The collection was sparked by Stewart’s childhood fascination with slot machines and his dad’s knack for fixing them.

Ken, from Birmingham, revealed: “As a child Stewart was captivated by seaside slot machines when we visited Blackpool, Skegness and Torquay. This inspired him to construct his own basic slot machine out of cardboard and wood at the age of 10.”

“Although I didn’t share Stewart’s enthusiasm for penny arcades, I found a passion for the restoration process. In 1990, when Stewart was 15, we spotted a machine advertised – a 1961 Mills Bell-O-Matic Spanish Gold one-armed bandit (sold at auction for £1,300).”

“We bought our first machine but when we got it home it wouldn’t work. We returned it and the seller banged it with a hammer to get it working. We obviously knew this wasn’t right, so we dismantled it, piece by piece, taking photos as we went along.”

“We had the space at home to house them and, if we moved, we made sure there was a suitable room for them – they were part of the family.”