I need some advice on a Mills Brown Front 1938?

[MrDeeBee]

I'm no pro. I will need some springs to recondition this machine to playable. There have been sheared off screws, stripped threads, missing screws, etc. It seems to be all original inside and out. I got about 48 dollars in quarters out and the newest coin was 1996. The quarters were scattered throughout the cabinet, some blocking mechanics. I need a schematic with part names. Is there something online available? This is a one time slot recondition for my sister-in-law. A family heirloom so to speak. I don't really want to invest alot in books, just the necessay parts. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

[mazzeosa17]

Besides needing the parts, a book will help you to identify which parts and springs you need, and how to replace them. I suggest getting the Dan Mead and Bob Geddes book "Owner's Pictorial Guide For the Care and Understanding of the Mills Bell Slot Machine".

[MrDeeBee]

Thank you. I have ordered books and some parts from e-bay. It has been an interesting project. I am not the first to be inside the cabinet. Many boogered, missing, stripped screws and threads to replace repair. I have 8/32 and 6/32 screws that are brass that I have installed as replacements. Will the use of brass screws lessen the value of the machine and/or affect the integrity? This machine was set up to favor the house. There were 3 nickel sized plug blocking payout holes in the 1st reel disc. The 1st reel has patch over pictures. For example the original emblem was a cherry and the reel has a lemon patched over the reel tape. I'm not sure the tapes on on correctly. Doesn't seem like it. When the disc holes line up cherries, i got oranges on the reel. This is a fun project that has kept me out of trouble. But now I'm in reel trouble.

[mazzeosa17]

Yes, that was common that the "Operators" (that ran the gambling establishments) would modify the slot machines to lower the payouts by putting plugs on the reel discs. They didn't call them "One Armed bandits" for nothing.
You can make sure that the reel strips are on correctly by cycling the machine, stopping the cycling in the middle of the action by carefully putting the base of a screwdriver (or something similar) in the clock where the fan blade is located, and then moving the 3 reel discs around to ensure you're getting the correct payouts (Cherries, Oranges, etc.). You will be able to see if the upper payout fingers could go through the holes in the reel discs by looking at the alignment of the discs with those upper payout fingers as you rotate the discs. Then you can write down which payouts occur in sequential order on the discs, and see if you have to move the reel strips around to correspond to that order. You move the reel strips around by uncrimping the areas on the reels that are pressed down on the reel strips. Hope this makes sense.

[MrDeeBee]

Igot the second reel right. The bolts for the second reel were tightened in the wrong position. All reel symbols match with disc holes and finger alignment. The finger for the cherry won't reach first disc when set to win. All other fingers will only enter first 2 discs at the same depth. The finger for the cherry is visualy shorter and I looked for cutting or filing across the tip. If it has been cut it is not obvious, though it is at least a 1/4" shorter than all the other fingers. I don't see anything obstructing the fingers from their full travel. I don't know how the payout will behave yet. I was told it used to pay out a few coins, but I don't see how. Surely no one took this machine apart and cut five fingers shorter, to the same exact length. The cherry finger is definately shorter and will not reach the first disc and it should be going through two. Still waiting on books.

[MrDeeBee]

So I found what what was keeping the payout fingers from moving far enough. A hook lever stuck in the down position and another piece were stuck like glue. The hook lever kept the payout fingers from traveling their full travel. Got those pieces loose and set. Worked first time a lined up winning combo was set. Still waiting on fresh finger springs and some books. The machine itself is now operating as designed. It is still dirt and gritty. I will work on coin slider next. Three screws hold it in place and two are stripped. I'll take care of that next.