I have always been taken for my main holidays to the seaside (Chapel St leonards by Skegness to be specific), and have always had a real love for the old fashioned arcades (slotties!), and though i like the new one's, the original penny pushers and grabbing machines will always be my favourite (the one's that haven't been tampered with, and you actually might win something then!).

As i have had my children, i decided that i wanted them to have the same experiences of the place that i did (with even my husband falling in love with the place), consequently they have fell in love with the same slotties, so when i found out that you could buy the toy versions of their favourite games i had to get them!

The grabber machine i purchased (and there are quite a few different versions available to buy!), was a square shape, the top portion is clear plastic (obviously or else you wouldn't be able to see the prizes inside!), with a sturdy looking lid on the top.

The base again is a very sturdy square, complete with a joystick to move the grabber arm, and a button to actually drop the grabber when you have it in the position you want it!
The whole process is powered with two industrial looking batteries (size c one's i think they are), which should be removed when not in use incase of leaking.

Along with the unit there area around 6-7 balls (very like the old fashioned eggs you could get with prizes inside), these came with little cheap looking prizes in, which the kids weren't interested in, so i simply swapped them for small prizes, the small chocolate bars, penny chews, that sort of thing, as long as they fit in the balls and weren't too heavy they worked!
I then simply had to pop the balls into the main part of the unit, via a ball shaped hole on the top.

The first time they used it i was gob smacked by just how noisy it was! The unit plays a generic sounding tune, with a voice inviting the child to "have a go!", i assume this is meant to be the clown that is pictured on the back panel of the unit!

Once the child starts positioning the crane arm a high pitched beeping sound starts, with there being a descending sound made once the crane has been dropped to pick the gift up, and unlike the full sized one's this hasn't been tampered with, and the kids do generally win a prize everytime!

Any downsides? Not major ones i have to say, the prizes do have to be kept small enough to fit inside the balls provided, though i did put some very small cuddly toys in too, and lollipops, and the crane still managed to pick those up, anything heavy and the mechanics seizes up and it makes a whiring noise!

The only other downside was the "swinging crane", which was when the kids got a bit over the top moved the unit too much, then had to wait for the crane to stop moving before they could drop the grabber down, but again these are small niggles rather than problems!

Price wise this only cost £19.99, though can be purchased for much less now, as this was when they first came out a few years ago!

The novelty factor has now worn off, and it is still on top of my daughters wardrobe, though when i suggest maybe giving it to a charity for another child to play with, they simply look horrified!

This is a lovely toy that has kept my children entertained for many an hour, recommended!

Thanks for reading x