Industry veteran Freddy Bailey, for many years a leading manufacturer and distributor in the UK amusement machine business, is coming out of retirement to market a special project in the US.

Bailey, who ran several companies, notably Game World, very successfully in the UK market in the 1970s and 1980s, now lives just outside New York but has kept in constant touch with the business and friends in the industry throughout the intervening years.

He has completed an agreement with the UK’s Lordsvale Sales, run by Mike Ansell, to handle the new Elvis Presley pool table in the US market. "When I saw in InterGame that Lordsvale had taken the rights to produce an Elvis Presley pool table through the licensor, Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc, I immediately knew that it would be a winner.

"I knew Mike Ansell, of course, but needed to contact InterGame to get the telephone number and after talking with Mike we concluded an arrangement for Mike to build an Elvis Presley limited edition table and for me to market it in the US."

Under the arrangement, Bailey and Ansell have set up Lordvale Sales (USA) Ltd.  Through the new company Bailey has started negotiations with a leading pool table manufacturer in the US. The table will be built there and will come as a package with a Tiffany-style lampshade and a cue rack, all of which must be approved by Elvis Presley Enterprises. "The table has already received approval," said Bailey, "and while we are waiting for clearance of the accessories, I am lining up a series of distributors across the US. It will also be sold through the internet.

"The internet is a powerful marketing tool in the US and just like the Elvis pinball, the pool table will become a very collectable item for private homes. Each will carry an official hologram licence sticker from Elvis Presley Enterprises and a custom plaque with the engraved name of the buyer. A tournament for the registered buyers will also be held."

Both Bailey and Ansell believe that licensed products are going to become a major part of the amusement industry in the future. "We will also look at other products which Lordsvale has including both the Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe pushers, the Pig Racing game and the Roll Them to Win game. We will make them all available to US operators."

Mike Ansell commented: "For many years Freddy Bailey was one of the best-known characters in the UK industry and it is great to see him back in the business from his new base in New York.  There is no one more knowledgeable about the industry. With such an excellent product to distribute and such a totally natural market as the US for an Elvis pool table, Fred is being re-introduced to the industry with a guaranteed success."

For the UK and European markets, the Elvis Presley pool table is being produced by Excel Leisure, the well-known manufacturer based just outside Manchester. Initially, the table will be produced in a non-coin version but it is planned to turn it out with coin mechanisms in the near future. The table has high quality graphics covered with a strong laminate for long life and will be ideal for Elvis fans and themed locations. It will come with a range of Elvis Presley themed accessories, cues and cloth.