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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.
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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