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WHO IS JAMES ROLLER? |
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James Roller
Retired Showman - Restoration Artist
 For
over 20 years, beginning in 1959, I was an operator of
Skill Cranes, Claw, and Digger game machines.
I operated these machines at County Fairs, State Fairs,
Carnivals, Amusement Parks and one World's Fair. In the
1970's my family operated almost 100 of these
coin-operated games with America's largest railroad
carnival: Royal American Shows.
In following years I helped to develop the first
portable Skee-Ball games, owned two carnivals, and a
tent circus, and served for several years as General
Superintendent of America's largest Big Top circus -
Carson & Barnes Circus.
I am a retired showman.
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James Roller featured in new book from
Jeretta Horn Nord
"A Cup of Cappuccino
for the Entrepreneur's Spirit Volume II"
Available at Amazon.com
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After
retiring, I began to search for three old Erie type
digger machines to restore: one for each of our two
children and one for a museum in Florida. For some time
I did not have much luck. Then, when I did locate what I
wanted, I started finding more of them. I soon realized
that I had become a collector. And, I accumulated quite
a large collection.
During my years of operating these games, I repaired,
rebuilt, and modified digger games extensively. I was
involved in the manufacture of new mechanisms and of new
cabinets. Now I find that this old expertise is very
useful in expanding the quality of my collection and
with helping other collectors to acquire a quality
digger.
 While doing the work of restoring some duplicate diggers
to offer for sale I found that I enjoyed the creative
process every bit as much as the collecting, and so I am
slowly restoring and selling much of my extensive
collection. I enjoy profiting by the sale of my skills.
These digger machines, like all old coin-operated
equipment, were industrial art of their time. Much of
factory manufacturing in the 1930 –40’s art deco era was
still done by hand, by skilled craftsmen, and the
products were beautiful combinations of cabinetry,
machinery, and style. I apply my skills to hand restore
each digger in meticulous detail. I have completed many
wonderful pieces which are now in the private
collections of discriminating collectors and investors.
The owners consider their diggers to be restoration art.
I am a restoration artist.
325-646-4378 (studio/shop)
jim@jamesroller.com
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