1951 Mills/ "Burtucci" slot machine

[Mike7997]

I found this today, and I'm wondering if anyone has more information. It was described as a "Mills/Burtucci" slot machine, made in 1951, specifically for The Sahara (the Belly Glass confirms that).

I can't find anything on the internet about "Mills/Burtucci", nor can I find any Mills slot machine that remotely resembles this. The cabinet has no "Mills" markings, but the reels have " BELL FRUIT GUM - MILLS NOVERLTY..." and etched in the interior base is "MLB-2514-A" - a Mills part number.

Has anyone heard of these legacy companies doing special order models for casinos?

EDIT: I should have add, long time reader - first time poster. Sorry about the sideways photos!

[shortrackskater]

 

I fixed your photos. They have metadata in them that retains the original position. I open them and flip them straight, then save. I'm using a MacBook Air but I think you can do that in the phone as well.

Another more knowledgable member will chime in soon, but that's not a 1951. It's more likely 1961 and Mills made machines like that until the early 70's (some for export), believe it or not, until they were completely overrun by the success of Bally and the "hopper," allowing a LOT more coins to be paid out in the tray. Styles of machines somewhat resembled cars of the era. Machines in the 40's and 50's started getting "rounder" just like cars, and TOASTERS did! 
If I'm correct (Member 62mini will correct me), that mechanism may actually have been manufactured by Pace, which made all the slots for Harveys in Reno. But don't quote me on that one! But you did say Burtucci... so that may change things unless they worked with Pace. Does it work? How much did you pay for it?
It appears to have started its life out as a penny slot. I'm much rather have seen it in that condition though, rather than nickels since penny slots are rarer, and usually more valuable. That mod was probably done after it left the casino though.

[63mini]

If I'm correct (Member 62mini will correct me), that mechanism may actually have been manufactured by Pace, which made all the slots for Harveys in Reno. But don't quote me on that one! But you did say Burtucci... so that may change things unless they worked with Pace. Does it work? How much did you pay for it?
It appears to have started its life out as a penny slot. I'm much rather have seen it in that condition though, rather than nickels since penny slots are rarer, and usually more valuable. That mod was probably done after it left the casino though.

  Ok, I guess I will give this a shot even though it seems I have been demoted to "62mini".... 

  The mech in your machine is a Mills.  You can Identify that by the "MLB" part numbers.  Now the cabinet appears to be a "Baldecchi".  They made replacement cabinets for Mills, Jennings & Pace machines. Probably, done in the early to mid '60's.   In honor of "Monti" a forum member who past this year.  I will post an older quote from him about the Baldecchi MFG. history.

 "Baldecchi Manufacturing in Reno Nevada was the company that made the open front metal cabinet for the casinos to make use of the older mechanical slot machines so as to place them closer together and eliminate the need for the slot mechanics to spin the cabinets around to perform service on the inner mechanisms!
This allowed for a smaller foot print being required so the casinos could have more slot machines on the casino floor!
The metal cabinet also prevented "Cross Roaders" of the day, slot cheats from drilling holes in the cabinet to use a bicycle spoke to hold and control the reels!
Baldecchi also made the coin entries for these open front slot machines copying Pace somewhat however the mechanisms used were Mills Bell-O-Matic models when Mills was operating in Nevada based in Reno!
As the slot machines were placed on a counter or cabinet in rows they required a coin bowl be placed within the cabinet for payouts which exited the metal cabinet under it which Baldecchi also made so for home usage the wooden base is needed to house the coin bowl!"

 

[Mike7997]

Thanks for fixing the photos, I was going to take new pictures today once I moved the slot machine from my garage.

I paid $600, I felt that was a fair deal.

It works, and aside from new wiring, appears to be original. I'll take new wiring over cloth wiring any day.

The person who sold it to me did mention that it was made in Reno.

A Google image search of Pace slots does show some that look related, but distant cousins. I really wish the cabinet had some identification on it.

[shortrackskater]

Ok, I guess I will give this a shot even though it seems I have been demoted to "62mini".... 

Oops! Sorry about that. 
62mini + 1 = 63mini
You've been "re-moted" 

[Mike7997]

Ahh, "Baldecchi" was the key word, not "Burtucci", but the seller was close.

Thank you for digging up that information. Not much can be found online about Baldecchi, and the little that I did find comes back to Monti.