Wood Splitting Skill=Carnival Game Skill?

[MotoBoyMatt]

Has anyone out there tried the carnival game where you swing a sledge hammer to get a metal "chaser" to fly up and hit a bell at the top?

I've seen it called "The Great American Strength Machine" and more generally a "High Striker"

I've tried an electronic one at Great America, on two different occasions, and I think I got somewhere around 90% to the top.

This last weekend I had an opportunity to try a mechanical one and hit the bell 3 times in a row, although I think it was "calibrated" kinda low because the prizes were kinda small and you didn't win anything unless you hit the bell 2 out of 3 trys.

Just curious what experience other wood splitters have had in this pursuit.

 

[madrone]

HA! Yet another benefit to wood burning. I will be trying this at the next opportunity.

 

[Shipper50]

You mean they still have this game at fairs and carnivals? I used to do this one all the time back in the middle 60's when I was trying to impress my date or who ever was watching. The guy who ran it once told me where to hit it, and I rang the bell most every time after that.

Shipper

 

[firefighterjake]

My volunteer FD in town runs something similar at the MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association) Commonground Fair in September as a fundraiser.

 

[Jags]

On the eastern border of Wisconsin and Illinois there is a Renaissance Fair every year. It is something to see albeit not every year. They have one of those whack-a-bell thingys. While walking by with a few friends, a fair maiden, dragging the sledge behind her, walked into my path and dropped it at my feet. As I reached down to pick it up, I realized I had been "had".

I rang the bell 4 out of 4 times. Had a small crowd around by the final 5th ring which erupted in applause. The fair maiden did state that I was the first of many that rang it all 5 times. Who knew hand splitting for all those years was a "skill"???

 

[Delta-T]

this is akin to discovering that painting the fence, sanding the deck, and waxing the car all turned me into a karate master without my knowing. if only there was a cash prize for swinging the mallet and ringing the bell, parhaps a new game show is in order.

 

[firefighterjake]

On the eastern border of Wisconsin and Illinois there is a Renaissance Fair every year. It is something to see albeit not every year. They have one of those whack-a-bell thingys. While walking by with a few friends, a fair maiden, dragging the sledge behind her, walked into my path and dropped it at my feet. As I reached down to pick it up, I realized I had been "had".

I rang the bell 4 out of 4 times. Had a small crowd around by the final 5th ring which erupted in applause. The fair maiden did state that I was the first of many that rang it all 5 times. Who knew hand splitting for all those years was a "skill"???

Lord forgive me for this one . . .

So what Jags is saying is that he rang the Fair Maiden's Bell five times? 8) I'm impressed.

 

[Jags]

Lord forgive me for this one . . .

So what Jags is saying is that he rang the Fair Maiden's Bell five times? 8) I'm impressed.

Uhheem! With the dress of the era being worn, and a large percentage of upper body being displayed, it could have been 6 or 7 times. :coolsmirk:

 

[mayhem]

I've done it a few times myself. I always see them at the carnival when its in town. The ones I've been to have all been fixed near as I can tell. You get 3 shots to ring it once...nobody, but nobody ever gets it on the first two tries...third try almost always gets the bell, no matter who's swinging. I missed it on the first try, got the thing up to about 90% or so...gave it everything I had on the second try and it went lower...backed off a bit on the third swing and it slammed the bell.

Its fun to play, but tend to be among the more expensive midway games ($2 per play) and the prizes are always crap like inflatable hammers...if it were stuffed animals I'd be there since both my wife and my daughter like them and it would be a good cheap way out of the carnival midway.

 

[ac900tc]

I have done this several times in the last few years. (at carnivals, amusement parks etc.) and have always been able to ring the bell! I won my daughter a decent sized stuffed animal at Cedar Point last year. I have always attributed this skill to my wood splitting days of old. (I have had a hyd. splitter for the last 12 years)

 

[crazy_dan]

I have done this several times in the last few years. (at carnivals, amusement parks etc.) and have always been able to ring the bell! I won my daughter a decent sized stuffed animal at Cedar Point last year. I have always attributed this skill to my wood splitting days of old. (I have had a hyd. splitter for the last 12 years)

if you swing that thing around and hit the plate you will ring it for sure ;-P