When a penny is placed in the slot, the rope rises up in the air and a small boy climbs up the rope, before vanishing at the top. It operates on the principle of Pepper’s Ghost. This machine, part of the Davenport Collection, was in extremely poor condition. It was renovated by engineer and magician Tony Middleton of Cambridge, with help from John Davenport and other friends in 2015. The body of the cabinet has a label saying Samson Novelty Co Ltd, London. They were manufacturers of coin operated machines. Tony Middleton is on the right of the photograph and Roy Davenport on the left.
Indian Rope Trick coin operated machine
Item Details
| Date | Likely date is 1930s or 1940s. |
|---|---|
| People | Roy Davenport, Tony Middleton |
| Organisations | Samson Novelty Co Ltd |
| Key Phrases | Automata, Optical |
| Category | Novelties, Toys, Games & Jokes |
| Ref no | N1141 |