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Bryans Case Styles

Many of Bryans machines came in a number of different case styles and colours throughout their production history. In some instances it was possible to specify a preferred case when ordering.

Case styles: Apart from the standard light oak case, machines could be supplied in a taller case with a decorative top-piece (known as the 'Castle-top' case) and a case with curved edgings, known as the 'Streamline' case. Streamline cases were introduced sometime during the early 60s, and came with a separate top flash incorporating a chrome nameplate bearing the name of the machine. It was possible to store the top flash in the cash box for travelling purposes.

Case finishes: The most common case finishes were polished oak; and a painted crackle finish in either dark blue on red, or dark blue on white. Fleck paint was also used on machines such as the Bullion and Fruit Bowl, and the later machines were covered with a speckled material which was then painted in a gold, silver or copper colour.

Some examples of different case styles


Clock in standard oak case	Clock in crackle finish case (photo courtesy S. Parkes)	Clock in Streamline case (photo courtesy J. Darvill)


Forks in standard oak case	Forks in Streamline case (photo courtesy D. Lavender)	Forks in fleck Streamline case (photo courtesy J. Darvill)


U-Win Allwin in standard oak case	U-Win Allwin in Streamline case (photo courtesy S. Parkes)	3-Ball in Castle-top case (photo courtesy S. Parkes)

Elevenses in Castle-top case (photo courtesy W. Tear)	Elevenses in Streamline case (photo courtesy W. Tear)	Late model Elevenses in standard case (2p play) Note the square payout tray on the later Allwins (photo courtesy P. White)
Replacement backflashes for sale (original type)	Original backflash design	Later version was reversed
Notice that the direction of the stripes on the backflash was changed in later games, so that the stripes emerged from the hammer box (which was more logical in a way). The date of this change is not known, but Streamline games exist in both versions (as can be seen on this page) so the change must have been after the introduction of the Streamline case. Machines made after the 1971 change to decimal currency all appear to have the later backflash. So the change probably happened in the late 60s or very early 70s. An older game with a later backflash is usually a sign that the backflash has been replaced. Most collectors prefer this to a cracked and flaking original, which detracts considerably from the appearance of the machine. Up until 2000, new backflashes (of the later design) were still available from the Bryans factory.

		All Sport in veneered case. All Sports were usually given a fleck paint finish, in yellow, red, or blue and silver. It was originally thought that this All Sport had been veneered by an over-enthusiastic collector, but three more identical examples have since come to light,in the UK and the US. These remain something of a mystery. (photo courtesy S. Parkes)
Gold foil case Later games such as the Double Top and Double Decker were covered with a speckled painted material. This can be difficult to repair if damaged (as seen in the example shown!).
		Bryans sales leaflet This leaflet shows the three different types of Allwin case available to order. Today, many collectors prefer the finish of natural wood to the 'decorative' crackle finish. However, Castle-top cases are still sought after because of their relative rarity, and can often fetch higher prices. (courtesy S. Parkes)

This web site is copyright (C) 1999-2020 Melvyn Wright
A note about values: These were included on the site because 80% of emails received by me are of the type "I have xyz machine - how much is it worth?". The values are based on the best information available at the time, but they are subject to large fluctuations due to the condition of the machine, the case style, and the demand for it at the time of sale. There is no guarantee that your particular machine is worth the amount shown on this site. All values are in GBP (£).