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A problematic design flaw in the ubiquitous claw machine has been corrected with a new improved claw that is even more useless than the previous version.
Claw machines, invented in the early 1930s by William Bartholomew Claw, are popular in pubs, clubs, amusement arcades and any other venue containing people keen to exchange a sum of money for the chance to win a prize worth less than that sum of money.
Popular claw machines include the deceptively-named “Chocolate Factory” which technically do contain chocolate but are not factories, and the even-more-deceptively-named “Koala Krane” which are not really cranes and contain zero Koalas.
The redesigned claw, which uses springs with a 20% lower tension, corrects the existing issue of patrons using the claw to remove items from the machine.
Cornelius Shonk, owner of 25 claw machines in various venues, has been quick to upgrade his problematic machines with the new claw design.
“I was horrified when I heard that some patrons were using the claw to steal the prizes; that’s not what it’s there for,” said Mr Shonk.
“It was getting to the point where I had to go and replace the prizes in some of the machines, which defeats the purpose of the machines entirely. I mean, if I wanted to exchange 50 cent plush toys for $2, I would just open up a shop.”
Meanwhile, 5-year-old Amelia Melinda, who was lucky enough to use one of the machines before it was upgraded with the new improved claw, said she was thrilled to win a small Minion plush toy for just 12 $2 coins.
When asked whether she felt bad for exploiting the faulty claw, or whether she thought spending $24 on a small prize was better than spending $24 on no prize at all after the new improved claw was fitted, Amelia wasn’t sure.
“What? I’m going to call him Minioney. Bye!”
