School me on this Mills Castle Front please

[Fiddlehead]

Greetings all,

I've recently come into a pair of Mills slots. I'd like folks' opinion on both. Any info is welcome - authenticity, value, date of manufacture, the works.

They are a 25 cent Castle Front and a 5 Cent Black Cherry.  This post is about the Castle Front.

Found the serial number easily. Appears not to have been restored, except for having the paint stripped. I believe the lock and key have been replaced. The machine works just fine.

Thanks in advance!

[shortrackskater]

Does it work - cycle and pay out properly? Post a photo of the key if you can.
Hopefully member 63mini will chime in soon, for both machines.   

 

[Fiddlehead]

Yes, it works, plays and pays as it should as far as I can tell.  The lock & key are replacements, but I'll take pics and post them.

I've also joined coinopcollectorforum and have a thread over there about these two machines.  There I've learned that this machine has an award card from a Baker Black Beauty, and reel strips from the Automatic Coin Machine Corporation of Springfield Mass. 

I'm debating as to whether to repaint it.  It's obviously been stripped as part of a partial restoration, and I think it needs some color.  I don't know if that would help or hurt the value.

 

[63mini]

I'm debating as to whether to repaint it.  It's obviously been stripped as part of a partial restoration, and I think it needs some color.  I don't know if that would help or hurt the value.
 

  It does look a bit plain jane without the paint.  If you plan to redo the mech and cabinet, it's a given to re-paint the castings.  If you do, I suggest the "One Shot" sign paint brand for those.  Remember, it's only paint and you can change or remove it down the road.

[shortrackskater]

I watch Antiques Roadshow and items like furniture or artwork (other than paintings) are far more valuable with the original "patina." I'm a coin collector and know to never clean coins.
But with antique slots, and yours being stripped of most it's paint, it's much better to add it back. 
I have a 1947 Black Cherry but the original paint is decent, so I'm leaving it as is.

[Pinballwizard55]

Nice looking machine, in spite of the bogus lock and alternate paper pieces. A repaint would be advised. The fact that it is a quarter machine adds to the value as there were fewer of those made as opposed to 5 or 10 cent machines. Good luck, The wizard.

[Fiddlehead]

As promised here are the lock & keys, along with the original lock which I found tucked nicely inside the cashbox.  Does anyone make keys to fit these old Mills locks? 

I'm still trying to decide what to do with these two machines.  They came from a close family friend.  She's in her 80's, and these belonged to her late husband. She doesn't know much about them or where he got them.

I'm either going to sell these for her, or keep one/both and buy it/them from her.  If I do decide to sell one or both, I need to decide whether to paint the 25c, or replace the award bib on the 5c.

Please keep the suggestions coming! I'm especially interested in what folks think these would bring, as I want to make sure she gets fair value.

[shortrackskater]

Ed might be able to make the key for that. Ed???
If not, Dave Berten, in NY, can do it. He's had health issues but he's back in business. It's well worth the money. If you do sell, you have to find a REAL collector who will know the added value of that original lock. Great you found it! That's a rare thing that the old lock was kept. 

(I put the same reply for the other machine)