Mechelen 2008

After a year we were back in Mechelen on the Collector Fantasies 2008. As I can't have the disposal of a truck anymore, the transport of the bingo's has become difficult. So we decided to bring only four machines. A Key West, a Golden Gate (still one of my favourites), the inevitable Miss America, back after an absence of a few years and as a special request from me we brought a just restorated Big Wheel.
The Key West did we make for a good English friend of us, but the other bingo's were of our own collection.
We knew that many people wanted to play a Miss America or a Golden Gate, but what I hoped that the Big Wheel could draw the attention because it's a very different bingo. The Big Wheel is from 1968, was only a short time in operation and did not get the profits Bally expected. But what we tried (by putting no credits on the onther bingo's, but only on the Big Wheel), after one or two games most players stopped. They though the Big Wheel too difficult and there are too many differences from other machines. The latest thing is one of the reasons why I do want a Big Wheel in my own collection. It's more fun to play at home with several bingo's with various possibilities. Of course our regulars showed up and they gave the Big Wheel a try, but even they preferred to play a Miss America de Luxe or Golden Gate.
And what to say about the Key West. We put this machine on the corner so that is was visible from all sides. Many people asked us the price of this machine, but each time we had to explain that the Key West was not ours and that the other bingo's were not for sale, but belonged to our own collection.
When our English friend saw his restorated Key West, played and received the keys of his machine, he was rather emotional. He played many games on it and  according to him his nostalgic feelings prevailed. And that's why we do it. Throw away all the old bingo stuff is no great feat, but to save a bingo from the scrapyard that's our hobby.