4 notes on interesting bagatelles

Let's chat about parlor bagatelle toys again. 

1)   One Man's Toys, Games and Tools Collection

There is an incredible auction of bagatelles coming up, one person's lifetime of collecting.  Many incredible pieces, but also the comprehensiveness of the collection combined with the robust and exceptional photos provided by the auction house makes this one quite special.

We have collected all of the bagatelle photographs from this auction.  For the bagatelle historians out there, I've made a single ZIP file with all of the lots I find interesting.  There are 3 folders here:  Redgrave/Singer tables, toy bagatelles, and one for other marble games of note.

2242 files, 590 MB.  Download the ZIP of images from the One Man's Toys, Games and Tools Collection.

 

2) my new solar system bagatelle from Japan

Here is a solar system-themed corinthian bagatelle from Japan.

No confirmation on name / date / maker, but I assume it's 1930s because the Corinthian craze came to Japan in the early 1930s, and in 1939 Japan went to war and I assume made few toys.  The text itself does not appear to be post-war.

Here are the pockets on the board and their translations:

10 太陽 Sun
20 上弦 First Quarter
30 下弦 Last Quarter
40 海王星 Neptune
50 天王星 Uranus
60 水星 Mercury
70 土星 Saturn
80 地球 Earth
90 木星 Jupiter
100 金星 Venus
110 火星 Mars
120 満月 Full Moon

Then there are TA and ST pockets at the bottom left and right sides.  These are features you see on some other Corinthian boards, sometimes labeled and sometimes not. 

pictures courtesy James Masters

So assuming the same rules, if you pocket TA you take all of the balls that went to the bottom without scoring and play them again.  Do you also replay the ball that fell in TA?  Perhaps not.  What does TA mean?  Try Again?  Take All?  I am unsure.

The ST pocket might be for STOP or Stop Turn?  But it would mean the game ends, regardless of any balls left to shoot.  A trap to avoid!

 

3) Sugiyama-san's UK bagatelle in Japan

I am happy to showcase this bagatelle game owned by Sugiyama-san of the Birth of Pachinko Musem. He purchased it on a trip to the UK and was told it was from 1890-1900 by the dealer. 

It is fascinating to me because it copied many parts of the classic Redgrave design, but keeps the cue/mace shooter lane on the right and slaps in a spring plunger on the left.

While the means to propel the ball are unique from the Redgrave design, so is the upper  area with 3 arched wires protecting the king ball divot.  Also different is that the mid-playfield cups have a nail beneath them to ensure the ball falls into it.  The bottom uses classic Cockamaroo-style vertical slots to award small points to balls that fail to score on the main playfield.  Redgrave never used Cockamaroo-style bottom channels, typically opting for a series of cups with nails funneling the balls to them.

 

Kazuo Sugiyama showing off the backside of the bagatelle

I really like this style of game because it merges the classic cockamaroo designs with the then-contemporary Redgrave & Singer design ideas.

Looking through my archives, I found a photo of a similar table.  The point values differ slightly.

the scores are slightly higher on this model, and it is longer with an extra bell & gate section

 

Redgrave bagatelle examples:

 

 

4) Le Basket Francais by Samud

This next one comes from a catalogue from a prestigious seller of rare papers and books.

I want to caution against purchasing this for the 3000 Euros being asked.  Currently there is a copy on Ebay for 220 €. (archive)

ebay France

This one sold for $60 USD.

And this one for 110 €

And this one sold 50 €:

 

There is also a restoration video of this game on youtube:

 

Very cool game, but definitely not a 1930 game or the first usage of Basket Ball in a game.

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