Penny squashing macines
 

Refering to one of Kipax's photos of Blackpool posted today

I thought it was actually illegal to deface coins of the realm but there are machines like this all over the place aren't there?

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

First time I ever saw this one.. Must have walked past it a million times as well. certainly never seen one anywhere else.

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

I've seen one in SeaLife Centre and one in the Tower. I'm almost sure there was one in Scarborough when we went earlier this year. Can't remember where I've seen others.

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

Most of the popular museums and attritions have them now. My lads got about ten of them. Quite a cheep souvenir really…..lol

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

Used the one at the tower.Now if it was Princess Annes face on it it would not matter.Owt must be an improvement on the one she has now LOL!

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

I think they're a great idea - I always get one if there's a machine about. I first came across them at Disneyland a few years ago - but they're everywhere now.

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

Aye but it say 10p on it and it should only be 9p because it screws my penny up as well

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

ive always though it was illegal to like burn money so this is the same innit....Doug your sons goin prison :)

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

I do believe if you look closer on the machine there is some blurb that explains that the machine is not illegal. I can't remember the reasoning but it defo says something about it.

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

I recall seeing bracelets made from the old silver thruppenny bits by drilling holes through them to link with a chain loop. When I asked someone about 40 years ago to drill a hole in a coin for me I was told it was High Treason! Maybe times have changed.

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

I must have a closer look at one of these machines next time I see one. I'm just a bit of a skinflint when it comes to spending 50p in order to demolish 1p. lol but you are right that it is a cheap souvenir when compared to other things.

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

When i was an apprentice we used to make rings out of old bob coins, that would be a shilling to any young uns out there

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

How did you make them? Did one coin make one ring like a signet ring? At first I had visions of you drilling a big hole through the middle to put your finger through and then realised that didn't seem likely.

Then I thought I've seen the gold rings etc made with Krugerrands and sovereigns but they are in a sort of gem type setting which I presume doesn't affect the coin itself. Is that how you did them?

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

Right then willow here goes.First you drill an 8 mm hole in the middle.That then goes on a jig and is tightened on with a nut.We then placed it in a lathe and turning the lathe slowly with our left hand we hammered away with an hammer lightly with our right hand.
When we had it formed we used a file while the lathe was moving to round it off.Polished it up with emery paper.
Next step was to place the ring in a collet and drill the hole to finger size,deburr it and bobs your uncle.We only used the old shilling pieces because they had a high silver content than the newer ones.

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

They have those m/c on Liverpool docks too

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

I have seen one of these machines in bolton wanderers club shop and i have also seen the ones in blackpool.

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

So my original imaginings of you drilling a finger sized hole in the middle of the shilling wasn't as far out as I thought then was it Mik?

Did you end up with a smooth silver coloured plain ring?

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

Cadbury's World in Brum has one that stamps a Cadbury logo on them too.
They all seem to cost an additional 50p to do it, I wonder if there is any arranged fee to the treasury, perhaps to replace the 1p value?

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

So if I understood this correctly, you put 50p in there, then 1p in the there, pull the handle, and hey presto you've no longer got 51p.

Magic. They do say a fool and his money are easily parted.

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

LOL weary tourist!! Thats investment for you

Re: Penny squashing macines
 

Oh yes but you do have an elongated squashed slightly curved remnant of a penny with some logo about where you are impressed upon it.