A well-known pioneer of the modern UK machine operating industry, Peter Instone, has died at the age of 86.
Peter worked as gaming machine engineer at Smith Brothers and Coin in Battersea from 1960 and moved to Slough in 1962. There he opened Instone and Ashby Ltd along with brother-in-law Stan Ashby. They manufactured a number of highly successful fruit machine titles, including Lucky Devil, Money Matador, Musketeer, The Buckingham and Talisman.
Peter fought a punitive purchase tax implemented by the tax authorities on the gaming machine industry in the 1970s and won. Peter was a BACTA member from the 1960s until his retirement in 2007. He was also chairman of the old ATE Exhibition Company during the 1970s and early 1980s.
Peter Instone’s funeral will be on Friday, August 24 at 10.30am at Slough Crematorium, near London.
