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| The Bryans
Museum In 1990 the Bryans factory moved from London Road to smaller workshop premises in Packington Hill, and the original belt-driven machinery and other important artifacts from the London Road factory were taken to Drayton Manor Park. The Drayton Manor Family Theme Park in Tamworth is owned by the Bryans family (see footnote), and it was decided to set up a museum to preserve the history of the Bryans Works and exhibit some of the vintage machines for the public to play on. |
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| Inside the museum is a reconstruction of William Bryan's "Inventors
Workshop", and also a large static display of the factory machinery and tools
that were used to produce the machines.
On the walls are many of the slot machines, which can be played by obtaining old pennies from the attendant (just like the old days!). |
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| Other machines are displayed in various stages of restoration, and the walls are plastered with numerous photographs, sales leaflets, and other interesting paperwork. A selection of mechanisms are also on display. It's an Alladin's Cave for the Bryans enthusiast! | |
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| Three of the Allwins on display in the museum. Judging by the immaculate condition and matching two-tone cabinets, these were probably made in the 1980s or early 90s, and it is likely that they were made specifically by the Works for the museum. | |
| A visit to the Bryans Museum is highly recommended.
Drayton Manor Family Theme
Park is in Tamworth, Staffordshire (UK) and details can be obtained from
their web site by clicking on the link. Bear in mind that it is a theme
park and you will have to pay admission to the park and zoo, but you don't
have to buy any ride tickets if you just want to visit the museum. The
best idea is to buy ride tickets for the kids, and while they are off enjoying
the rides, you can go and look around the museum!
It is my experience that you should ring the park on the day of your visit to check that the museum will be open, and head straight for the museum as soon as you arrive. I have been a number of times and found it closed. At the time of writing this, the museum does not open at the start or end of the season, and sometimes closes early if the park is not very busy. |
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