Jennings Mints of Quality - My Grandpa's antique slot 2.0

[shortrackskater]

Good to know, like you, I bet it is long gone but if someone has it and they run it in Craigs list or something I might see it, If I ever do, I'll be right there to let you know.
Thanks
Jackpot

Thanks!
It would be funny if it shows up here... from a member, who bought it long ago, in an alley...   

[IFFV68]

If I remember correctly,
There were several Slot Machine makers in the Teens, 20's, 30's etc.
There were no Patents on the Machines or parts. I have a Mills $.25 Black Cherry with a Buckley Escalator, not Mills.
Many parts will fit in several different brands.

[shortrackskater]

Well three years and two months later... UPDATE
I've been in touch with a great man "Monti," from COINOPCOLLECTOR forum. I'd been working on a Mills Black Cherry I bought recently and completed it. Then I turned my attention back to this Jennings.
He recommended I an entry level lock picking kit, which I bought. I sat at Starbucks yesterday and fiddled around with it. It came with a cool clear lock to practice with. I found a website with some short videos showing the action of the basic lock. A few minutes later I was using different picks to open the clear lock. Apparently I found the right one. I inserted my torsion wrench and the pick, found the binding pin which moved the wrench a little. Then I just rubbed over the rest of the pins and the thing opened.
I finished my coffee, took my knowledge home and grabbed a "Master" padlock. I had that open in about three minutes.
So I went to my Jennings slot machine, inserted the torsion wrench and a pick. To my surprise - CLICK! I got it opened in about 40 seconds.
FINALLY I got the front panel off!
First I noticed a lot of nickels. So far, all have been ones I inserted. The machine still works but the side chute is jammed and they're all just falling inside the machine.
Then I noticed two very nice original labels. One large on on the back panel which I slid off after unlatching it (from the front). The other, smaller one was on the inside of the cabinet.
Next I noticed a "check" that appears to have been used as a washer under a thumb screw.
I'm not exactly sure how to remove the mechanism. It doesn't lift and slide out like my Mills. It was getting late anyway last night.
The lock was made by Corbin. It looks old but I'm not sure if that's an original lock or not. I already had a replacement so it's on now. I don't think Corbin locks are all that expensive. If it is original I might have it rebuilt by Dave - the slot machine spring man.
There's more nickels under the mechanism, so I'm hoping I'll "hit the jackpot" and find an old one. I'll post back again, in less than three years. 

[shortrackskater]

More pictures...
Stuffed inside to cushion the front glass was some old newspaper, apparently put there around 1947 or so!

[shortrackskater]

I got the mechanism out. There were two screws in the coin head. I was wondering why that long plate was there on top... now it make much more sense.
Cleaned out all the fallen nickels. Most were the ones I put in but I did find a nice shiny "new" 1957 Jefferson nickel and a few others from the 50's. They came from the bottom so I'd say they've been there since then! 
I looked at every nickel from the machine and there were probably 50 or more from 1964. So, at some point in time somebody must have had a roll and just played them into the machine.
I re-attached the coin cover (found laying in the back, by the cash box when I bought the machine)  to the coin chute. Oddly enough I found two perfect brass standard screws in my miscellaneous screws box in my garage. 

[Jackpot]

Shortstacker; your getting good with these old guys! Also, I see you learning how to pick locks, it is fun and the more you practices, the better you get, just go lightly on the tension bar so you can feel it.
Jackpot

[jay]

Post where you got the lock pick - that clear practice lock sounded pretty cool.

[shortrackskater]

I used a company that was refereed to me by Monti (of Monti's slots). It, of course, came out of China so it took awhile - but I just found a zillion of the same things on eBay and a few are shipped out of the USA for the same price. It's basically a 16pc beginner set with the clear lock. The quality seems decent for the price. I don't have my clear lock here now so I've added a picture off Ebay.
Now, last night I had more trouble getting the Master back open! I thought I was using the same pick but had a hell of a time finding the first "binding pin." I was at at for at least 15 minutes. Finally I used a pick that looks like it has a mini snowman and, once I found the first binding pin, I got it open. Then I went to bed.

[Jackpot]

The one i use the most and almost always is the second
One on the left. If it isn’t working for me i keep a tad of tenshion On it and reach for another.
Jackpot

[shortrackskater]

It definitely takes good "feeling skills" to do this. I was better off just closing my eyes to finally get the master lock open again. There's really no need to see.

[shortrackskater]

Hmmm... is lock picking THIS easy? I've done 5 different locks now including a fancy Illinois Lock Co lock that is "Duo wafer something." It had pins on both top and bottom but after seeing placement of the torsion wrench on a video, I got mine opened in just under three minutes! One of the others took about 4 to 5 minutes.

[brokenticker]

Hey mark, I know this is a old post, Do you still have the mints of quality slot, if so im looking for a picture of the inside of the front door, mines missing mint roll holders and I would like to see what I need , thanks 

[shortrackskater]

Sure do. In fact, I just recently got the fake mints to put in it. And just last year I got the missing parts for the delay pay mechanism too. I'm on my way home soon and I'll shoot a couple pictures for you.

[qbert]

I'm posting a picture of some checks that I have for my mills blue bell for those that haven't seen them before.

[shortrackskater]

Here you go...
When I finally picked the front lock, I discovered a check was used as a washer! I just left it.

[brokenticker]

Thank you!!  Also just noticed they used a check for a washer too

[IFFV68]

I believe the reason most of the Antique Slot Machines Mech. look similar is because there were never any Patients allowed?
Jennings can vary compared to Mills on the outside but the inside can be similar with the exception of the Chain Link Mech.
This doesn't represent Union or Management.