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Hi All. Found this site just a few days ago. Memories came flooding back. Here goes with my first encounter with fruit machines and the following years. 1966 I was 16 years old; I had an interview at A.C.E. with a Mr Dave Shenton (more about him later). I was lucky I started work the next day. A.C.E. was a relatively new company it was set up by the Collins family, Maurice (the father), Michael and Roger (brothers). Dave Shenton was a director; he was the brains behind the company. He had spent some time in America learning as much as he could about ‘one armed bandits’. The company was working from 46 Charles Street in the centre of Cardiff. The ground floor was offices, the second floor production line, wiring section, test area and stores, third floor more offices. There was also a basement which became the machine shop making most of the metal components for the machines. The Jolly Roger was the first machine made by A.C.E, although it was called by the old fashioned ‘one armed bandit’. This machine for anybody that is not familiar with the Jolly Roger I’ll give a brief description. I have tried searching for photos of the Jolly Roger without any luck The best way to describe the cabinet is that it was shaped quite like a coffin standing on its end. It had the traditional ‘arm’ on the right hand side and a glass front with the picture of a pirate front centre (if my memory serves me right). At the top of the cabinet were three small round windows, lights would flash showing the symbols (I will describe later how these would light the individual symbol). There were just four of us on the production line, myself, the foreman, David Davis, Ralf Foward (later to become the store man) and John Jenkins. Working the test area was Tony Mathews We would turn out between 5 and 10 machines a week. I was interested in the workings of the machine so I would spend my coffee and dinner breaks sat behind them trying to find out how they worked, little did I know both Dave Shenton and Tony Mathews noticed my interest that later on they would offer me promotion which led me from production line to testing, fault finding and helping design. Not to make this too boring I’ll post this and if anyone is interested I will add more about life in Charles street and A.C.E. moving from the City centre to A.C.E. house in ferry road

hi it’s good that another insider of the gaming industry in its heyday has joined up. please share your memories and experiences from that time.

Hi. I've just discovered this site. Interesting reading and brought back many memories. I knew and worked with Howard Parker and John Monks before they set up J.P.M. We all worked for a man named Mike Firmage company name Image in Canton Cardiff. I most likely never met you but I worked for J.P.M. in Ferry Road not long after they opened up. I didn't stay there long as I went to work for Gainsmede as a juke box and fruit machine engineer. Like yourself I started on the production Not at J.P.M. but at A.C.E. in Charles street in the city centre. When we moved to Ferry Road I moved to testing then fault finding eventually to design.

first job is to remove the battery from the board [ just snip the 3 legs holding it onto the board ] then take some good pictures of the front of the board have you also checked the fuses in the power supply

Emulation is more important😁

Hoping to get this finished very soon and release it. I’ve just been busy with work etc, the usual J

Well I had some acrylic tube arrive today so I proceeded to make a new 50p payout tube. Size was spot on however when empty they still drop straight thru! 50p payouts are a pain in the backside I should have asked Ron to leave old 50's programmed. So Tony, its your way I shall adopt (with my new clear tube) - load em up and works fine. 👍 I've kept the original with the machine too.

I'm spoiling you all now haha Barcrest Spotlight mpu2 Maygay Wild Hold triple M tech AL Big Apple mpu1 as £2 jackpot Go on then. Feel free to post some of your jackpots🤗 Keep this place buzzin'