Black Jacks and Penny Falls.

Spent some time and money in a seaside amusement arcade recently, mainly on Penny Falls, which are no longer pennies and with some machines you just win tickets.

Penny Falls haven’t really worked for me since decimalisation in 1971; the old penny was ideal in size and weight, and with care and attention I could usually come out with a modest profit.

Anyway, I won 78 tickets and having checked the prizes available, the 78 equated to 7 Black Jacks…

Black Jacks in the 1960s were four for an old penny (1d), so that would be almost 10 Black Jacks for a new penny (1p). Although with time and inflation you would be hard pressed to buy even one Black Jack for one new penny.

So, my 78 ‘winning’ tickets, even at their present Black Jack value, would only amount to about 7p…