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**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => Other Reel Games => Topic started by: shortrackskater on March 19, 2014, 10:24:56 AM
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THIS is what started it all for me. I have not seen this slot in about 40 years. I only had a mental picture of it. It was willed down to my uncle (who restored it) , and then to his daughter, my cousin, who decided to live a life of drinking, smoking and partying. As a result of that, the beloved slot (which she KNEW we all would have wanted it to stay in the family) was LOST, or sold, or given away... who knows.
Anyway... my sister received this "fine" picture of the slot. I did my best to enhance the blurry image but I don't know what the model was. I think it's a Mills and I see ".... of Quality" on the front. "Mints of Quality?"
Can anyone identify this machine and maybe post a picture of one similar? I'd be forever grateful! :hail:
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It's not a Mills, it's a Jennings: even rarer.
The characteristic curve to the coin input is a clue to the Jennings origin.
Here's a picture of one, similar to yours, but with the product tower on the handle side;
yours seems to have been removed (?)
Gorgeous machine; I'll do some digging and see if I can come up with a more exact match photo,
and further information.
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:hail: :hail: :hail: :hail: :hail: :hail:
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Any different pics of a Jennings?
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Here is one in my game room. It's a Jennings/Pace revamp, twin jack pot. The top casting looks exactly like your image, and the front is the "revamp" part made by Pace. I think it was fairly common to revamp the machines back in the day.
(https://newlifegames.com/nlg/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ramegoom.com%2Fjohn%2FJennings-Pace_revamp%2Fjennings-pace_twin_jackpot.jpg&hash=16709633c2fe7b99a53bbda9f5e9cbb4e282deca)
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:thank_you:
Looks similar other than the twin payout area.
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I have a Jennings Dutch Boy like this one pictured.. It's a 1926 Nickel Machine...
Gary
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Sorry for the delayed response: Uncle Sugar just let me come home after a week of playing in the dirt.
I swear, if God ever gives the world an enema, watch out Camp Pendleton! :buttwiggle:
Anyway, such "vending" machines were attempts to slide slot machines under local anti-gambling laws,
from the early 1920's to the late 1930's. They usually didn't last long in any particular venue, as eventually
the Town Fathers would tighten up the rules; but in the meantime, they made money. In some cases, even the
name on the machine was doctored to sound like something other than a well-known slot maker like Mills.
The Burnham Gum Machine Works was one, and here's a pic of one that is very much like yours.
Others dispensed cigarettes, matches, and even golf balls at golf courses.
Here's also a closeup of the vending device. A pin projected from the side of the machine to unlock the
mint-drop door, through that not-quite-square plate visible on your slot machine.
By the way, most Jennings vendor units (and there were lots of them) had wooden lower-fronts, where the
payout cup was located. Yours is a bit rarer, as it has a metal plate in that location.
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Thanks for posting.
Yes I wish I knew what really happened to my grandpa's slot. I'd love to see the real thing instead of fuzzy pictures of it in the background.
Horrible to say this, but I will never forgive my cousin for losing it. :no: She knew the HUGE sentimental value of this machine and chose to smoke, drink, and probably snort this machine away for her fix.
On a HAPPIER note ...
I still recall that, when I played with it, the machine was unrestored and I think the wood was painted blue. He was a member of some sort of "lodge" and this was their (illegal) slot machine. Somehow he ended up with it. My grandparents lived in a cool old house in Pasadena and when we'd go visit them, he would bring out the slot machine and put it on a table in a room that was behind their garage... the "rumpus" room. There were always nickles in it, but of course the machine would eventually gobble them all up. When that happened, there was a string on the back I could pull to release the handle and keep playing!
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This is very interesting to me, so I did some research on it which includes several pages of photos and information. I scanned all this and will place it where you or anyone else can download it if you like. It may only be available for a while as it will expire. I'll post the link below at the end of this. I find your machine interesting because the very bottom of the front is made of metal, all of these Jennings Counter or Vendor fronts of this model the bottom panel under the vendor front is made of wood and not a metal casting. Also in the other models the top coin viewing window, on the top castings are not round like yours is. The only make and model I can find in my research that has a lower metal casting on it, and also has the round coin viewing window in the top casting, was made by Burnham Gum Machine works in 1924. But, this machine is a very rare example of this "Mints of Quality type of front" on a machine, and this Burnham machine has claw feet and I don't see those on your machine in your photo of it. By the way, value on the Burnham machine is listed as being worth from $4,000.00 and up to $5,000.00 but I really don't think yours was the Burnham model. It could be that this Mints of Quality front was put on another make or model of an old operator bell type of machine like yours, a machine like maybe an early Mills machine But...., and a Big Butt this is to add to all the confusion here is, that your machine does have the proper Jennings type pull handle, and only Jennings used this one. So, I'll have to research the mills machines of this age some, and see if I can spot one with the round magnifying glass coin viewing window on the top casting, and that metal bottom casting under this front casting. Early old operator bell machines did not have jackpots on them and they just had plane wood or casted aluminum fronts without jackpots, and later after the jackpot was invented by Callie route operators just added after market type jackpot fronts on them it to update the old machine. Someone could have done the same thing here on yours, but used a "Mints of Quality" front instead of a jackpot front. You got to love a good mystery! Sorry that your family's machine disappeared, but do yourself a favor and your sister too, forgive her, as this will be her burden to carry on her own. Forgive her, and you will feel a lot better about this. Then just go blow all your money and pick up one like it and I can help you there if needed. Here is that download link if anyone is interested:
https://www.hightail.com/download/ZUczZXR3UzhKV04zZU1UQw (https://www.hightail.com/download/ZUczZXR3UzhKV04zZU1UQw)
This link is only good for 7 days or 100 downloads so once expired, if you would still like this file drop me a line as I will have it stored.
Jackpot :soapbox_3:
P.S. I just found you an replacement tody! There is one on ebay right now at: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jennings-Mints-of-Quality-c-1930s-Gorgeous-5-cent-Slot-Machine-Rare-/281333972369?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4180cfbd91 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jennings-Mints-of-Quality-c-1930s-Gorgeous-5-cent-Slot-Machine-Rare-/281333972369?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4180cfbd91)
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Thank you for all this research!!! I will download all this right now.
It was my cousin... not my sister though. Haven't seen the cousin in well over twenty years. I probably will never see her again. She pops up on my Facebook from time to time. Forgiving is difficult... but I'll try!
That is TOUGH seeing that one on ebay. I wonder if it's was my Grandpa's? Funny... it was in Pasadena originally. Then to San Diego, where my cousin "lost" it. The picture I posted was from at least 20 years ago I'd think so it easily could have had another restoration. Who knows. :(
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THIS is what started it all for me. I have not seen this slot in about 40 years. I only had a mental picture of it. It was willed down to my uncle (who restored it) , and then to his daughter, my cousin, who decided to live a life of drinking, smoking and partying. As a result of that, the beloved slot (which she KNEW we all would have wanted it to stay in the family) was LOST, or sold, or given away... who knows.
Anyway... my sister received this "fine" picture of the slot. I did my best to enhance the blurry image but I don't know what the model was. I think it's a Mills and I see ".... of Quality" on the front. "Mints of Quality?"
Can anyone identify this machine and maybe post a picture of one similar? I'd be forever grateful! :hail:
Drum Roll please!
I found it Shortrackskater!
Here is the perfict match to your machine and what it is called. I finally located the right photo for you with the lower casted front, A 1923 Jennings Automatic Mint Vendor. This information is attached as a photo for you here, with information.
Jackpot :applause: :dancing_2: :applause: :wave:
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THANK YOU!!! That's amazing... from an old blurry picture, that just caught the slot in the background, you've come up with THE machine.
:applause: :hail: :hail: :hail: :applause:
I'm going to print this out today and stick it on my wall!
I really appreciate the work you did to find this lost... er... not so lost now machine.
After I posted...
I noticed a teeeeeeeeny difference. The little coin window... this one is square. My grandpa's was round! :wave:
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WOW, good eye, I never noticed that myself and I rebuild these older slots for people so I have an eye for them. I know the castings come in both styles, but we are right on now finding one with that lower casting made in metal and not wood like most of the information in the books. At least you have a clear photo to go with your photo now. And I'll keep an eye out for finding a real example for you.
Jackpot :mail_2: :mail_2:
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What's funny was that I still clearly remember peeking into the window on my grandfather's machine. There was something fascinating about seeing the nickle behind that glass. That memory is very clear to me and this was probably 45 years ago. I wish he was still around...
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I hear you there, it might also be a vivid memory because, that glass is really a piece of magnifying glass, so the coin should of showed up really nice and big! That glass was there so anyone walking behind you could see if you were playing slugs or real coins. Later, with the Coin Escalators the coins would go in on the left side and go across the front for 5 pulls so they could really tell if you were playing slugs or not, pace and watling had round escalators so you could see them for a few plays as they went around the coin escalator.
Jackpot :odie:
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See post number 5 above. I posted my Jennings/Pace twin jackpot revamp conversion. Mine had the upper Jennings half, with the round window, and flat reel glass. I think that's the missing part of the puzzle.
Jennings machines from the same era had a curved glass and square window, but otherwise, pretty much the same.
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I hear you there, it might also be a vivid memory because, that glass is really a piece of magnifying glass, so the coin should of showed up really nice and big! That glass was there so anyone walking behind you could see if you were playing slugs or real coins. Later, with the Coin Escalators the coins would go in on the left side and go across the front for 5 pulls so they could really tell if you were playing slugs or not, pace and watling had round escalators so you could see them for a few plays as they went around the coin escalator.
Jackpot :odie:
YES YES! I remember THAT was why I was intrigued by it. :propeller:
And thanks for the info... gameroom...er... ramegoom!
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Ok it's been over a year. Thanks to jackpot or ramegoom (one of you researched this and I apologize for not remembering right now, I have all that info at home), for finding one of these slots on eBay.
I'd been following it going up and down in price, but thankfully, not selling!
In 15 minutes I'll be on my way to LOOK at it and hopefully be able to buy it! I contacted the shop and the quoted price was lower than eBay, probably due to the fees. If they will go just a little lower, I can afford it.
This will be THE most important and special slot I will ever have I hope, since it's exactly like my grandpa's slot that I played with so so long ago.
Wish me luck.
I hope someone reads this! :applause:
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:dancing_2: :mail_2: :dancing_2:
Ok it's been over a year. Thanks to jackpot or ramegoom (one of you researched this and I apologize for not remembering right now, I have all that info at home), for finding one of these slots on eBay.
I'd been following it going up and down in price, but thankfully, not selling!
In 15 minutes I'll be on my way to LOOK at it and hopefully be able to buy it! I contacted the shop and the quoted price was lower than eBay, probably due to the fees. If they will go just a little lower, I can afford it.
This will be THE most important and special slot I will ever have I hope, since it's exactly like my grandpa's slot that I played with so so long ago.
Wish me luck.
I hope someone reads this! :applause:
Cash talks, so bring cash and then plop it down and say this is all I have and all I can do and see what happens, you could always pull out a little mad money if you really had to after that. GOOD LUCK, and I would bet money that you will be bringing it home tonight. It was I that sent you all the info on this jem.
Jackpot :dancing_2: :applause:
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Did you get it?
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Guess whats under this tarp?
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Stop It ! Post that pic!
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Guess whats under this tarp?
Your killing us! I bet it is a.................... Sewing machine for the wife or is it a mixer?...... Ya hoo
It's, I bet, a shortrackskater's gift that has been a long time coming. It's here guys I know it! Come on, how about a peek?
Jackpot :applause: :Crazy: :hissyfit: :banghead: :EmoticonHelp4: :dancing_2:
I blew up the photo to see if I could see anything, just nothing but the size is a clue
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Aaaah, he probably missed out;
that's a conciliatory keg of wine :drinking_wine:
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Maybe your right and that is just the bobby prize, oh well, lets drink up.
Jackpot :chug: :drinker:
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Your Cruel! I can't take it anymore! :Please_Post_Pictures_2clr:
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Just wrote a nice LONG reply and got that stupid "fatal error" message!
Hang on!
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And once again...
Yep I got it!
I had been watching this on Ebay for a year now. The price had been fluctuating from $3500 down to $2200. He went lower one time and so I made an offer with the "buy it now" offer. Instead of maybe compromising, he instead pulled the auction off and relisted it at something like $3800! I guess I offended him! I was just trying to get him down since it DID say "make best offer."
Soooooooooooo I've been watching it all these months, and finally realized my time might be running out. It was located at a antique store about an hour from me in Pasadena, so I decided today was the day to go there. When I had e mailed a couple days ago, a lady there replied to me quickly and said the price was $1950! So I armed myself with some cash and decided I'd offer $1300 and see what happens.
I met the lady, and then a man... who WAS the ebay guy! I made the offer and he nicely said he'd call the owner (supposedly!). He came back a few minutes later and said that the owner DID want the $1950.
I went and got some more cash and was able to get it for the $1950 including tax.
I'm VERY HAPPY! This machine is incredibly special to me and I'm glad I got it, and THANK YOU to Jackpot for finding it!
I'm not sure if it has the cash box... no keys and the back has some replacement panel on it. The front key looks like a Mills lock and the back is an aftermarket lock. I'm going to contact the shop and see if the owner may have the keys. I'll start another thread on this and post about my NEW machine.
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And once again...
Yep I got it!
I had been watching this on Ebay for a year now. The price had been fluctuating from $3500 down to $2200. He went lower one time and so I made an offer with the "buy it now" offer. Instead of maybe compromising, he instead pulled the auction off and relisted it at something like $3800! I guess I offended him! I was just trying to get him down since it DID say "make best offer."
Soooooooooooo I've been watching it all these months, and finally realized my time might be running out. It was located at a antique store about an hour from me in Pasadena, so I decided today was the day to go there. When I had e mailed a couple days ago, a lady there replied to me quickly and said the price was $1950! So I armed myself with some cash and decided I'd offer $1300 and see what happens.
I met the lady, and then a man... who WAS the ebay guy! I made the offer and he nicely said he'd call the owner (supposedly!). He came back a few minutes later and said that the owner DID want the $1950.
I went and got some more cash and was able to get it for the $1950 including tax.
I'm VERY HAPPY! This machine is incredibly special to me and I'm glad I got it, and THANK YOU to Jackpot for finding it!
I'm not sure if it has the cash box... no keys and the back has some replacement panel on it. The front key looks like a Mills lock and the back is some replacement. I'm going to contact the shop and see if the owner may have the keys. I'll start another thread on this and post about my NEW machine.
Dam, very nice original, I also I see that is has the delayed pay unit inside, I can see the wheel in the photo once I blow it up, this is missing on a lot of machines so that my friend is a very good sign. Do you know how that works, if not let me know I'll explain it to you. Those red panels on front can be removed and you can put clear glass and add the mint rools, also you can get period type mint packages to put in there, I can also help you with that if needed. This is just a display so what you put in there is displaid forever. The mints came out of a side vendor that have been removed from most all these machine like yours. I can also help you with any photo's that you can send me, so send away if you have questions on anything. It is also possable to make a mills key for your front lock so don't distroy that. Get in the back insted and you should be able to remove the screws from the lock and save it. If you have an after market lock on back it should be very easy to pick it. Good show in getting something that means so much to you, how can you ever put a price on that.
Jackpot :applause: :applause: :applause: :dancing_2: :applause:
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Um, Shorty: I think you got bitten. If you look at the serial number on the front plate, just to the left of the handle,
you'll note the number begins with 58. This is the series of reproductions (made in China) that were dumped on the market in the late 1990's.
The internals are all from Japanese Pachislo machines.
It's probably worth about 25 bucks.
[ :) delayed April Fools, brought on by intense envy. Why is there no "drooling" emoticon on this site?]
GREAT CATCH! :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader:
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Um, Shorty: I think you got bitten. If you look at the serial number on the front plate, just to the left of the handle,
you'll note the number begins with 58. This is the series of reproductions (made in China) that were dumped on the market in the late 1990's.
The internals are all from Japanese Pachislo machines.
It's probably worth about 25 bucks.
Great one, ya got me for s sec, even though I knew better, no one reproduced these old goosenecks, but someone did a few with :Crazy: the old cast iron operator bells. :Crazy:
Jackpot
[ :) delayed April Fools, brought on by intense envy. Why is there no "drooling" emoticon on this site?]
GREAT CATCH! :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader:
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beautiful !!!!
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Um, Shorty: I think you got bitten. If you look at the serial number on the front plate, just to the left of the handle,
you'll note the number begins with 58. This is the series of reproductions (made in China) that were dumped on the market in the late 1990's.
The internals are all from Japanese Pachislo machines.
It's probably worth about 25 bucks.
[ :) delayed April Fools, brought on by intense envy. Why is there no "drooling" emoticon on this site?]
GREAT CATCH! :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader:
GOOD LORD! You scared the SH*T out of me, for about three seconds! April 3 fools Day!
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And once again...
Yep I got it!
I had been watching this on Ebay for a year now. The price had been fluctuating from $3500 down to $2200. He went lower one time and so I made an offer with the "buy it now" offer. Instead of maybe compromising, he instead pulled the auction off and relisted it at something like $3800! I guess I offended him! I was just trying to get him down since it DID say "make best offer."
Soooooooooooo I've been watching it all these months, and finally realized my time might be running out. It was located at a antique store about an hour from me in Pasadena, so I decided today was the day to go there. When I had e mailed a couple days ago, a lady there replied to me quickly and said the price was $1950! So I armed myself with some cash and decided I'd offer $1300 and see what happens.
I met the lady, and then a man... who WAS the ebay guy! I made the offer and he nicely said he'd call the owner (supposedly!). He came back a few minutes later and said that the owner DID want the $1950.
I went and got some more cash and was able to get it for the $1950 including tax.
I'm VERY HAPPY! This machine is incredibly special to me and I'm glad I got it, and THANK YOU to Jackpot for finding it!
I'm not sure if it has the cash box... no keys and the back has some replacement panel on it. The front key looks like a Mills lock and the back is an aftermarket lock. I'm going to contact the shop and see if the owner may have the keys. I'll start another thread on this and post about my NEW machine.
Here is a mate to it, only 2,800.00 so this should make you feel a tad better unless you want this too! You know, these are like potato chips, no one can have just one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JENNIINGS-SLOT-MACHINE/121404645765?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D777000%26algo%3DABA.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29267%26meid%3Dd67155301a77439196cb240956bbf27d%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D151639644318 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/JENNIINGS-SLOT-MACHINE/121404645765?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D777000%26algo%3DABA.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29267%26meid%3Dd67155301a77439196cb240956bbf27d%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D151639644318)
Jackpot :dragon2: :dragon2: :dragon2:
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I've seen that one. It looks nice, better condition although it has the square coin window. And I think the seller is going to lose on that shipping cost. It seems too cheap.
I think I'm good with the one for now. It will have 17 other friends!
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New member, Just checking out the site more. What a great story and Happy ending! Everybody on this site is so helpful. Glad to be a part of it!
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New member, Just checking out the site more. What a great story and Happy ending! Everybody on this site is so helpful. Glad to be a part of it!
Here's the slot today. I haven't done much other than get a new lock in front. I learned to pick locks since two locksmiths couldn't get it opened! It took me about 45 seconds. The other thing I did was put back in the mint display with the reproduction mint-candy tubes, made of wooden dowels. Eventually I'd like the side vendor but they're hard to come by.