jakdedert wrote:
Gareth Magennis wrote:
"jakdedert" wrote in message
...
Ron wrote:
jakdedert wrote:
Ron wrote:
Arfa Daily wrote:

The blower and ball system is a lot more random than the current
computer system, which generates very definite patterns, no
matter what the bingo clubs would have you believe to the contrary.
Actually Arfa, it`s very easy for an experienced bingo caller to
manipulate games using the old blower machine. He can make games
last longer in slack periods or get them over quick when it`s
busy, and in bingo halls or stalls with fixed cards, a good
operator can direct the wins to various areas of the house -
possibly even to individual players. It was even easier to
manipulate a game in the earlier days of the game, where wooden
balls were rolled down a chute directed by the stallholder.

Ron(UK)

Listening to you teabags (I use the term affectionately) discuss
this, it's obvious that Bingo--however it's played there--is a lot
more mainstream than here. Here, it's played mostly by little old
ladies at church socials. That said, many casinos have Bingo
rooms, but I've never bothered to peek in. Possibly it's a
different demographic, but somehow I doubt it.
Oh well I come from a fairground family, I spent my childhood and
teens working on a fair. My grounding in electrickery was
maintaining slot machines, later manufacturing them on a small
scale. As a yoof, I spent many hours 'geeing'[1] on the various
stalls, including several bingos.

Ron

[1] playing for nothing, pretending to be a punter to encourage
others to play. " Another Winner!"
Do they have the term 'carnie' over there? I think that's the
closest term to describe it. Unfortunately it has a somewhat seedy
connotation...no offense.

jak


Closest to that is "Pikey". i.e. "Gypsies", travellers, people with
no fixed abode, or those who live in caravans. Which includes those
working travelling fairs I guess. It also has a somewhat seedy
connotation, based on the belief that such people must, of course, be
criminals.


Gareth.

I think the operative part is 'itinerant', which defines carnies.
Fixed-base tourist attraction proprietors have a different cache
altogether...some good, some bad, but usually based on their own merits
without a stereotype. Most of the carnies I've met did (at least) skirt
the law. That's not to say that I've known all that many, but enough
to confirm the general opinion...at least IMM.

Certainly in the UK, fairground people aren't itinerant, most stall or
ride owners own houses (some of them quite spectacular). Fairgrounds in
the UK don't tour in the Winter apart from maybe Christmas time and
there are wintering grounds which have been established for many many
years. There may be a few who still winter in living vans but I expect
they are few these days.


Pikeys are a different kettle of fish altogether from both gypsies and
travellers.

My how far we've wandered from the topic.

Ron