Slot Machine Decals
Posted By admin On 29/07/22It was rescued from a fraternal lodge in Northern Illinois just before the sheriff came with his sledgehammer.
By the time our proprietor inherited it, it was in somewhat sad shape. Apparently, every time the lodge's bar walls were painted, they painted the slot machines as well. It had many different color coats of latex house paint over the face, side and back. The reels operated, but very slowly. The handle worked its way loose, and the slop eventually split the wood on the right side.
Restoration started with removal of the mechanism from the case and complete sandblasting of the case. The split in the wood was repaired through biscuit joinery. The wooden sides were then sanded and revarnished and a reproduction of the original Mills decal applied to the left side. The front panel was painted a hammertone blue, a close match to the original discovered during sandblasting (see comments below on Buckley slot machines.) The rear bonnet and door were painted the original wrinkle black and a reproduction 'Owner's Maintenance' card was glued to the inside of the rear door.
A relubrication of the mechanism cured the slow operation. The slot now looked and operated as new.
This example of the Mills Black Cherry is actually a Buckley Company remanufactured Mills. You can see the Buckley stamp on this picture of the frame. Buckley would buy used Mills machines, refurbish the mechanics, change the color scheme a bit, then resell them. So technically, this is a Buckley black cherry slot, which is why the arrangements of the cherries and the color differ slightly from the Mills version (the original Mills cherries were offset rather than lining up horizontally and they painted their cases silver rather than light blue.)
The slot came with the original double sided key, somewhat of a rare occurrence. Over the years these keys tend to get lost and modern replacement locks end up getting installed.
Here is a decal we created in Photoshop to replicate the original Mills Owl used on their slot machine stands.
- Igt Slot Machine Decals
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- Mills Slot Machine Decals
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GUEST:
It belonged to my great-aunt, and when we were kids visiting, we'd admire it. And she eventually gave it to my brothers and I. And with a little bartering on my part and their part, I ended up with it.
APPRAISER:
What have you discovered about it?
Igt Slot Machine Decals
GUEST:
Well, I was at a store where they restored slot machines, and I looked it up and they had a Totem. No picture, just a... _ Totem. And it gave a value of perfect condition around $10,000.
APPRAISER:
Well, it is a very, very rare machine. When I saw this on the table, I was really quite taken aback. It is an early slot machine and it is the Totem. And it was made by one of the great makers of slot machines, the Watling Manufacturing Company. They made some of the best and most unusual slot machines. These date from around 1910 and then forward. After the slot machine business disappeared, they ended up making nothing but penny scales. And I remember over 40 years ago I bought an old penny scale and I called up the Watling Company to get a footplate and I spoke to the old man Watling himself. It's a great old company, and this is a rare survivor with its original glass. See, this is reverse-on-glass decals. If this were damaged, it would really radically affect the value. It also has the original payout paper. All of these are little details that really help in the value. There is one problem with the machine, and that is that it does have a replacement rear door, but that is a small problem when considering the rarity. It has all the working mechanisms. It's a really complex piece. And another thing that makes this a very rare machine... you know most are three reelers. This has a double arrow action. We put the nickel in here, and they can see that there's a real nickel and not a slug. That was part of the security measures.
GUEST:
Right.
Bally Slot Machine Decals
APPRAISER:
And then you pull this knob down... and if you match up the fruit, you get some nickels back. Not bad, eh?
GUEST:
You have good luck.
APPRAISER:
So, now, your research suggested that if it were in perfect condition it would be worth about $10,000. Well, this is really not perfect condition, but for a machine of this rarity, it is in extraordinary condition. I've done a little research and I think a conservative auction value in today's market is in the $25,000 to $30,000 range.
Slot Machine Decals And Inserts
GUEST:
Whoa. That's considerably more than I anticipated.
Mills Slot Machine Decals
APPRAISER:
I think you're going to have a little more trouble with your brother.