Cleaning out the storage building and finding boxes of documentation and I found some of the history of my Father's business. As most of you know, Dad was one of the first operators (if not the first) of amusement machines - starting in 1951-52. Back in those days, importing machines was very different. I do remember driving down to the docks and unloading containers in the mid - late 70's. Pinballs and Video games. So I was surprised to find some of the old import documentation. I have a heap of this stuff that I need to go through, but I found some Insurance books on those imports. This looks to be the last book, as is still has empty forms. so either the next shipments were not insured, or they were done differently. There are these strange forms called "Telex" which have manifests and communication between sellers and Dad. Some of it is really amazing to read. If there is interest, I will scan and post some of this history.
Here's an insurance form from an import from Japan. I suspect it was a container of Videos, but it also mentions "Pin Balls and the like". I asked Dad about these forms and he told me that in the old days, he would half fill a container from the USA, and then the ship would go to Japan. He had a contact in Japan, who would accept the container, and then fill it with video games. Then when it came to Australia - it cost less in fees and duties etc.
I've yet to find the exact manifests of these imports, but I think it is all there, it just needs me to sort through them. There is the rumored container of Fathoms, Medusas etc that never made it.. but that's another story !
I'll post more interesting stuff as I find it. There is a 1950's "work book" that has the repairs logged that Dad was doing as he moved from being a Motor Mechanic to a "Pin Ball Mechanic" - That's how they spelt it !
