by watlingboy » Tue Jan 18, 2022 1:31 am
The only color scheme Watling used on pre WWII Rol-A-Tops is the one you have. The only variation is the flat part of the top casting on cast in horn machines is sprayed with clear tinted lacquer, like yours, and on the removable horn machines, that flat area is painted yellow.
The Rol-A-Top and Treasury machines are, in my opinion, the most difficult to restore correctly. That is because getting the gold finish on the coins is difficult and takes practice but it is possible to accurately reproduce it. The castings were never brass, gold or nickel plated. It also requires a lot of detail painting, some sprayed and some hand painted. I agree with Atac, this machine would clean up very nicely with a soft tooth brush, dish soap and patience. Collectors are always looking for nice unrestored machines. Too many nice examples have been restored that should have be left original. In comparing color combinations on machines, the only ones to trust are unrestored original machines, not restored ones.
George