CVG Article on Deith Leisure
- Thread starter dj_yt
- Start date
According to my interviee notes, with a bit of fleshing out:
Deith were the authorised agent for Williams, and therefore got first dibs on all new equipment. Colin went to see Defender and knew it would be a hit, so they bought it in BIG numbers, and any Defender coming into the UK went through them. Sales were enormous, outstripping US demand - and US supply - initially at least, and Deith employed a manufacturer out of Eastbourne (Streets) to build more under license (Colin said these were authentic licensed boards made in the states). He said most were for cabaret cabs, but the odd standup came through - like the one just sold on here.
Colin ended up being the number 1 Defender salesman in the world and got an all-expenses-paid trip to Costa-Rica, staying at a then Wlliams owned resort.
His Star Wars story was even more cracking, but that's for another time...
Deith were the authorised agent for Williams, and therefore got first dibs on all new equipment. Colin went to see Defender and knew it would be a hit, so they bought it in BIG numbers, and any Defender coming into the UK went through them. Sales were enormous, outstripping US demand - and US supply - initially at least, and Deith employed a manufacturer out of Eastbourne (Streets) to build more under license (Colin said these were authentic licensed boards made in the states). He said most were for cabaret cabs, but the odd standup came through - like the one just sold on here.
Colin ended up being the number 1 Defender salesman in the world and got an all-expenses-paid trip to Costa-Rica, staying at a then Wlliams owned resort.
His Star Wars story was even more cracking, but that's for another time...
I would be really interested to here the complete Streets story. See if you can pump any information from him about the "Streets Robotron" cocktail that is sitting in my garage at present also.
That one I can find zero information about anywhere.
That one I can find zero information about anywhere.
Shane Breaks (recognise the name?) is key to all this Streets stuff. From what I understand, Streets Amusements were a pre-war automatics manufacturer and opetator. Breaks, who weirdly came from my hometown, Broadstairs, ended up at Streets, becoming MD there. He then moved to Atari during the early days, leading all international sales (that last bit may have been the other way round).
Sadly Breaks died a year ago, but there are bound to be others who can shine some light on Streets and Breaks' legacy.
Sadly Breaks died a year ago, but there are bound to be others who can shine some light on Streets and Breaks' legacy.
Cheers Ben! That'd be wicked. I'm also meeting with Matt Deith in a fortnight once he's back from China. His dad, Bob, set the company up, so I'm sure he'll have lots more to add.
He also said there was a special edition of CoinSlot magazine all about Deith and he's going to dig it out. I'll see if I can get scans.
He also said there was a special edition of CoinSlot magazine all about Deith and he's going to dig it out. I'll see if I can get scans.
Found Issue 178 here already scanned...
https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_178_1996-09_EMAP_Images_GB
https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_178_1996-09_EMAP_Images_GB
Cheers Ben,
I then realise that I've managed to get the issue numbers completely wrong somehow -
- it's 76. ... Sorry, I can't quite figure out how I managed that one. Archive.org is a good call. I'll see if it's on there.
Aha! http://amr.abime.net/issue_1625_pages
DrGlitch2017-09-04 21:25:41
I then realise that I've managed to get the issue numbers completely wrong somehow -
Aha! http://amr.abime.net/issue_1625_pages
DrGlitch2017-09-04 21:25:41
ta daa..
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_076_1988-02_EMAP_Publishing_GB
I did think 1996 issue 176 was quite far ahead. Sadly the scan above does not have the give away booklet in (which the pictures from on the first page are from), I do have that somewhere, looking at an earlier comment it was at the top of one of the boxes, so will have a root about on Saturday, when the kids won't get disturbed with me pulling boxes from under beds/stairs/cupboards, hehe
Bensonrad2017-09-04 21:32:13
https://archive.org/details/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_076_1988-02_EMAP_Publishing_GB
I did think 1996 issue 176 was quite far ahead. Sadly the scan above does not have the give away booklet in (which the pictures from on the first page are from), I do have that somewhere, looking at an earlier comment it was at the top of one of the boxes, so will have a root about on Saturday, when the kids won't get disturbed with me pulling boxes from under beds/stairs/cupboards, hehe
Bensonrad2017-09-04 21:32:13
Interesting story alright, i look forward to more.
There were a few comments regarding the locked room on http://www.coin-opcommunity.co.uk/blog/2048-colin-sells-a-locked-room/
Michael Green
UDC
30/03/2011, 14:44
I have just read the story from Colin Mallery about the locked room. I remember the incident well as I was Managing Director of Alca Electronics in those days based in Oldham. I used to see Colin frequently when he was in Hartlepool. In fact Colin and I have been friends since 1960, when he worked for Ruffler and Walker, I worked for Phonographic Equipment. Our friendship has lasted all these years and is truly I think quite a record for the Industry.
Between us Colin and I have many amusing stories and I think it would be good to regularly feature them.
Stephen Robins
11/05/2011, 11:02
Enjoyed reading about the time we bought a locked room from Colin! I can confirm that we did a lot better out of it than we ever told him!
I first met Colin when I worked as assistant manager in a furniture store in Wandsworth just over the road from Ruffler and Deith aged 18. I had a van and a visit planned to Leeds so I went in to Rufflers to ask if I could deliver a machine for them in Leeds to help pay for the petrol. I was introduced to Colin and after a brief chat it turned out that Colin not only knew my family in Leeds but he used to stay overnight with them as my uncle was a Jukebox and One Armed Bandit operator around Yorkshire during the 60’s and 70’s. Colin let me have a machine to be delivered to Tic Tac Toe in Leeds and paid me £10 which was fortunate because approaching Leeds I broke down and it cost me £10 for a call out and repair.
That was the first deal with Colin but not the last. After I moved to Leeds at 21 I entered the industry and over the following 30 years I dealt with Colin on a regular basis until his semi retirement at Harry Levy. I can tell you that everyone was a joy.
There were a few comments regarding the locked room on http://www.coin-opcommunity.co.uk/blog/2048-colin-sells-a-locked-room/
Michael Green
UDC
30/03/2011, 14:44
I have just read the story from Colin Mallery about the locked room. I remember the incident well as I was Managing Director of Alca Electronics in those days based in Oldham. I used to see Colin frequently when he was in Hartlepool. In fact Colin and I have been friends since 1960, when he worked for Ruffler and Walker, I worked for Phonographic Equipment. Our friendship has lasted all these years and is truly I think quite a record for the Industry.
Between us Colin and I have many amusing stories and I think it would be good to regularly feature them.
Stephen Robins
11/05/2011, 11:02
Enjoyed reading about the time we bought a locked room from Colin! I can confirm that we did a lot better out of it than we ever told him!
I first met Colin when I worked as assistant manager in a furniture store in Wandsworth just over the road from Ruffler and Deith aged 18. I had a van and a visit planned to Leeds so I went in to Rufflers to ask if I could deliver a machine for them in Leeds to help pay for the petrol. I was introduced to Colin and after a brief chat it turned out that Colin not only knew my family in Leeds but he used to stay overnight with them as my uncle was a Jukebox and One Armed Bandit operator around Yorkshire during the 60’s and 70’s. Colin let me have a machine to be delivered to Tic Tac Toe in Leeds and paid me £10 which was fortunate because approaching Leeds I broke down and it cost me £10 for a call out and repair.
That was the first deal with Colin but not the last. After I moved to Leeds at 21 I entered the industry and over the following 30 years I dealt with Colin on a regular basis until his semi retirement at Harry Levy. I can tell you that everyone was a joy.
Funnily enough Michael Green is one of the people I've been introduced to with an eye to interviewing him. UDC were (and still are) a major player, but I had no idea he was Alca! I'll drop him an email this morning, Richard Crompton (of Cromptons who invented the penny pusher - again, in my home town! - works with Michael now).
It's evidently a small world in the amusements industry.
It's evidently a small world in the amusements industry.
More here on Ruffler and Walker :
http://penny-arcade.info/the-ruffler-walker-collection
Where can we listen/read about this interview?
http://penny-arcade.info/the-ruffler-walker-collection
Where can we listen/read about this interview?
Hi Ed,
I'm working on a book about arcade culture at the moment and these interviews are building into that, also some of the stories will end up being distributed as comics as seen on http://www.arcadetales.com and, of course I'll share the gist of things on here.
The Penny Arcade site it brilliant by the way, what an awesome resource.
I'm working on a book about arcade culture at the moment and these interviews are building into that, also some of the stories will end up being distributed as comics as seen on http://www.arcadetales.com and, of course I'll share the gist of things on here.
The Penny Arcade site it brilliant by the way, what an awesome resource.
Sounds like a great thing DrGlitch, I'll defo buy a copy. How do you go about such things? I've got quite an interest in the old road side restaurant chain Happy Eater, and have been building up quite a collection of bits/info from someone that work high up there back in the day, managed to get lots of one off items, ideally I'd want to present that info somehow, but have no idea how.