The UK coin machine industry was shocked to learn on Friday of the sudden death of Bob Deith, one of the most charismatic characters in the British business and one of those who contributed substantially to the formation of today’s street market.
Deith, who was 75, died suddenly at his London home on Friday afternoon, of a suspected heart attack. He leaves his wife, Ellie and three sons, Matthew, Leon and Simon, all of whom have had careers in the amusement machine industry.
He began in the coin machine industry in the early 1960s after leaving the Merchant Navy. Initially he worked with change machine manufacturer Autonumis, but within a few years had joined Dave Rogers’ London Coin Machines, which was to become one of the UK’s principal machine distributors, particularly of AWP machines.
In 1972 he joined forces with Bill Ruffler to form a new machine distribution company, Ruffler and Deith, with offices at Putney, London, and several years later his started his own distribution company, Deith Leisure.
At the time of writing details of the funeral had not been released, but as soon as InterGame is in possession of the information it will be posted on this website.
Our sympathies go to Ellie and her sons on their sad loss.
