1950s Edwin Hall Coin Operated Boat Kiddie Ride - Saucy Sue

Описание: Filmed at Harbour Lights Amusements, Fleetwood on March 30th 2019.

Manufactured by Edwin Hall & Co., this ride was supposedly released in time for the Amusement Trades Exhibition in February 1955 under the name of "Tommy Tugboat". However, a report about Edwin Hall as early as August 1954 mentions a "ship" ride. I am unaware of any other boats being made by Hall at such an early date so it is likely that this ride was under production (or at least in its prototype stage) at that point.

A beautifully detailed replica of a real boat, the ride incorporated navigation and mast head lights, a steering wheel, lifebuoy and real ringing bell. Once a coin was inserted, the ride moved in a most realistic manner as if really bobbing around on the waves. The top of the base was covered in a blue canvas-type material to simulate said waves which moved with the boat, making it seem even more lifelike.

As with many early Hall rides, the machine went through several design and name changes. Another popular version was the "Saucy Sue", as seen here. The ride has been with the Stefani family of Fleetwood since the mid-1950s, spending time at Fleetwood Pier, Harbour Lights Amusements and the Ferry Cafe over the years. This particular ship has been renamed Saucy Fru after a member of the family who own her. Fru has obviously been refurbished many times over the years but still retains most of her 1950s charm. The soundtrack is obviously different to what she would have played originally (Loveboat wasn't even written for more than two decades after this beauty started sailing the seven seas!) and she has lost her original bell. The coin slot would have originally been inside the ship. She now costs 50p a ride (instead of the original 6d!) but I was overjoyed to find that Fru is still in service to this day.

As far as I know, despite being a very popular ride in the 50s, this is the very last Edwin Hall boat ride in existence. I just love the realistic "bobbing on the waves" movement and the little seagull perched upon the mast.

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This video was originally published on Skylark24 on July 11th 2019. It had 15,443 views at the time of deletion!