The well-known UK coin machine operating Kravis Family has lost one of its best-known personalities with the death last week of Mac Kravis, aged 93.

He was the last survivor of the three brothers who made up a powerful force within the business in Britain in the second half of the last century.

Mac, together with brothers Mick and Sid, had been in the amusement business in the UK for many years. In the 1960s they started Lincolnshire Automatics, which became a leading operator of machines in pubs. It was subsequently sold to Bell-Fruit some years later. The brothers also had a major arcade, the Savoy in Cleethorpes, and one in London’s Acre Lane, Brixton.

They operated Boscombe Pier for many years until it closed and in more recent times bought Holland’s arcade in Swanage, which was subsequently greatly enlarged with increased frontage on the high street. A property was later bought in Torquay, close to one of John Bollom’s Ameco arcades. The new Kravis location grew rapidly and the Ameco arcade was subsequently purchased and the properties expanded to become what is today The Palms.

The family also bought an arcade in Minehead, Somerset, which was originally owned by Sonny Connelly, best known by many as father of Sonia Meaden, which Sonia and husband Brian had built up into a very successful location.

Another Kravis location was the arcade on the Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth, which was very much under Sid’s control until they opened an arcade in Blackpool that they held for many years.

Today, Malcolm Kravis, Mac’s son, runs the Torquay operation, while Steven, Mick’s son, operates Swanage. Malcolm’s son, Marcus runs Minehead.

Malcolm Kravis is a past president of the trade association, BACTA.

All three Kravis brothers had a passion for horse racing and were regulars to enclosures around the country. Said Michael Green of UDC, to whom we are grateful for much of the information in this article: “Mick and Mac were very popular and respected industry icons while Sid was always the ‘quiet one.’ This is not the end of a dynasty as Malcolm and Steven are continuing the tradition.”

Mac’s funeral was held on Sunday. He died in hospital after a short illness.