Mills, gold coin, Castle Slot Machine, a complete restoration.

[David Walz]

So, I basically I'm totally bored being at home after my neck surgery, and I have been watching this FUBAR for weeks on Facebook trying to reason with the owner that this Mills slot machine isn't worth $400.00, $300.00, $200.00, $100.00. Well we did come to an agreement under $150.00.

What I need are some information on this slot machine, diagram of the mechanical function, parts list of the machine, and a book on how this machine actually works.

Update: working on a complete restoration.

[David Walz]

More:

[David Walz]

More photos:

[David Walz]

What I am interested in is the original paint scheme of the machine, I have seen so many different colors, I am lost. Also, is the paint a gloss, semi gloss, flat, is it sprayed on with a paint gun, I have the setup for spraying with a air compressor.

Again thanks for any information.

[shortrackskater]

The MOST knowledgable person here is Ed... member 63mini.
But... head over to:

https://coinopcollectorforum.com/index.php
This site will give you great information and more photos on this machine.
If it asks you for a code to join, let me know and I'll PM it to you.
I believe this photo accurately shows the color but Ed will know. Yours definitely is missing the escalator or parts of it. That's the thing that moves the coins horizontally and then into the coin tube.

[David Walz]

The MOST knowledgable person here is Ed... member 63mini.
But... head over to:

https://coinopcollectorforum.com/index.php
This site will give you great information and more photos on this machine.
If it asks you for a code to join, let me know and I'll PM it to you.
I believe this photo accurately shows the color but Ed will know. Yours definitely is missing the escalator or parts of it. That's the thing that moves the coins horizontally and then into the coin tube.

Absolutely beautiful machine thanks.

[63mini]

DW,

 Nice find! I would have paid more for it.  That machine still retains the original colors.  As for repainting it, the color scheme is up to you.  I know that most people would use "1 shot" sign paint and do it by hand.  The 1 shot paints flow very nicely and self-level.   You can thin it and airbrush it too.  All the higher areas of the castings were polished.  Also, it appears that machine at one time had a side vender as it has "Fortune" reel strips and there is a cover plate on the on the side of the cabinet below the handle.  In addition, it looks like it had a "Gold Award" token dispenser.  However, it does not show that award on the paper award card.

 Did it come with the back door?

 As for a book.  I think you can get by with something like this (photo attached) to start.  There really isn't anything specific for that individual machine as the internals are pretty much the same.

 One nice thing about the antique machines.  They are smaller, lighter, and easy to move around.  Takes up less space too.  Some people think they are boring to play  .

[David Walz]

DW,

 Nice find! I would have paid more for it.  That machine still retains the original colors.  As for repainting it, the color scheme is up to you.  I know that most people would use "1 shot" sign paint and do it by hand.  The 1 shot paints flow very nicely and self-level.   You can thin it and airbrush it too.  All the higher areas of the castings were polished.  Also, it appears that machine at one time had a side vender as it has "Fortune" reel strips and there is a cover plate on the on the side of the cabinet below the handle.  In addition, it looks like it had a "Gold Award" token dispenser.  However, it does not show that award on the paper award card.

 Did it come with the back door?

 As for a book.  I think you can get by with something like this (photo attached) to start.  There really isn't anything specific for that individual machine as the internals are pretty much the same.

 One nice thing about the antique machines.  They are smaller, lighter, and easy to move around.  Takes up less space too.  Some people think they are boring to play  .

So you're the expert, I'm glad to have you helping me out. No back cover, I really would like to find a diagram of the mechanism. I am going to take it apart just like my other slot machines and detail, catalog, bag screws, etc to make sure that I am organized. I plan on taking a lot of time with this machine to restore it back to it's past working condition.

This is going to be a enjoyable project for winter in Alaska.   

[63mini]

So you're the expert, I'm glad to have you helping me out.

     

 David,

 I am far from an expert.  The experts were people like Monti and quite a few others who are no longer with us.  These machines are 80 and 90 years old and most of the people with the real "Hands on Knowledge" have passed the others are having issues.  I picked this up as a hobby a few years back.  My father used to have a business restoring old machines back in the 80's when we lived in PA.  So, I have some "Produce Knowledge".  Also, I still have my father old machine tools, a few small parts and a few of his old books.  So, I can get by.  Similar to you and the work you have done on your Bally machines.

[63mini]

 Also, as Mark stated.  The Coin Op Collector Forum is a good resource.  However, it is not frequented very often by those with knowledge so, it may take a while to receive a reply if you do a posting.

 Lastly, regarding the escalator.  It appears that two of the three screws holding it into place are missing.  So be careful when removing the mech as you don't want the remaining screw to pull out and/or break the casting.

[David Walz]

Also, as Mark stated.  The Coin Op Collector Forum is a good resource.  However, it is not frequented very often by those with knowledge so, it may take a while to receive a reply if you do a posting.

 Lastly, regarding the escalator.  It appears that two of the three screws holding it into place are missing.  So be careful when removing the mech as you don't want the remaining screw to pull out and/or break the casting.

Any help I'd appreciate, yes the old guard has passed, however we can keep it going.   
I would like to get a diagram of the mechanical parts.

David

[David Walz]

Disassembly.....

[David Walz]

Disassemble......

I seriously doubt that this has ever been disassembled since it was built. Some of the springs are in poor shape.

[David Walz]

Dissembling.

I think someone bent some parts.

[David Walz]

Dissembling.

The wood is dried out. I need to get it reassembled.

[David Walz]

Dissembling continues.
I need to figure out the piston.

[David Walz]

Dissembling.

[David Walz]

Taking the machine apart I learned that the oldest coin was 1939, the newest is 1974. The machine oldest date is 1931. I am going to have to re tap everything, clean the bolts, hell everything needs to be redone.
The reel tapes are shot.

[63mini]

David,

 Yep, I am 99% sure that your machine was originally a non-gambling machine that used "checks" and nickels for play.  The nickels were diverted to the cash box and the checks would go to the payout tube and jackpot.  This explains the fortune reel strips, mint vender cover plate on the side and the additional chute on the back of the jackpot.  In your photos I can see that the escalator is missing a couple parts and the token dispenser is missing the token release/retention parts.

 As for some of the parts.  Dave Berten (Thunderfivefive) on eBay is the man for springs. He also has repro Gold Award tokens and a repro Mill Bell Machine Parts & Service Manual.  That manual will not be 100% for your machine but, it will be very close and give you some of the original MLB part numbers.

 For the "paper products" reel strips and award cards the best person is Rick Frink. But he has been ill, and his wife is trying to fill the orders. He doesn't have a website and no longer responds to emails. Here is a link to his catalog.  https://www.coinopclub.org/documents/FRINK_CATALOG.pdf

[David Walz]

David,

 Yep, I am 99% sure that your machine was originally a non-gambling machine that used "checks" and nickels for play.  The nickels were diverted to the cash box and the checks would go to the payout tube and jackpot.  This explains the fortune reel strips, mint vender cover plate on the side and the additional chute on the back of the jackpot.  In your photos I can see that the escalator is missing a couple parts and the token dispenser is missing the token release/retention parts.

 As for some of the parts.  Dave Berten (Thunderfivefive) on eBay is the man for springs. He also has repro Gold Award tokens and a repro Mill Bell Machine Parts & Service Manual.  That manual will not be 100% for your machine but, it will be very close and give you some of the original MLB part numbers.

 For the "paper products" reel strips and award cards the best person is Rick Frink. But he has been ill, and his wife is trying to fill the orders. He doesn't have a website and no longer responds to emails. Here is a link to his catalog.  https://www.coinopclub.org/documents/FRINK_CATALOG.pdf

Wow that's cool.