New owner of a QT Sweetheart(1st mechnical)

[BEER4U]

Howdy All,
Just wanted to say hi and ask a couple of general question about
my new hobby. I've been going through pages and pages of this forum
and I think I have to stop a bit because I think I'm pushing out stuff
I learned when I started because my brain buffer is full. Also
watched a bunch of Dave's videos on YouTube also. I think he
could use a scantily clad assistant who could occasionally walk in front
of the camera.
Any ways, I will continue to read but thought I would ask a few general
questions, some could be opinions.
1. Is the QT Sweetheart internal mechanical like most other Mills or different
then most?(I'm searching around for diagrams, but none look like mine.)
2. Is there a "preferred" color scheme for each machine or can I paint
it a way that would make it look good.(mine is a dull baby blue color now,
in need of a good makeover). I searched on ebay and found at least
6 color schemes not including a chrome look.
3. Is the serial number on that piece of faded paper inside the machine
that I can't read or the one imprinted on the outside top of the cabinet?
(there are actually three numbers, one says "Z24931QX" and then
one that says "BACK R9687" and "FRONT U2928". I was guessing
these were owner numbers identifying inventory?)

Right now I have to clean up the mech since it's all sticky from old oil/grease
and probably years of neglect. Hopefully it works after that.

I am so pumped up about having one of these, it's hard to get any work done
during the day. I'm constantly searching information on these marvels.

I have yanked your ear long enough. Feel free to inject any info.
Thanks again for Dave for having this forum!!
B4U

[TheFatman]

Did you get this machine in Pennsylvania the other day? If so you got it at a good price. I was next in line. I am not too sure of all the original color schemes used but I assure you, you will find the right answer here.
Dave F

[MikeB]

QT's have a stamped metal mechanism, and are only related to other QT models, not larger Mills slots. There is a very good book available that shows a complete tear down and rebuild, you need to purchase that. "Owner's complete guide to the Mills Q.T. slot machine". It's out of print, but there are some available from time to time, and I think there is somebody selling copies on Ebay.

Pick any color scheme you like, within the range of other Sweetheart machine photos that you like. You can use fantasy colors if you like them for yourself, but that might bite you a bit if there's ever a resale.

Be very careful "cleaning up" as that has the potential to be a very bad thing, if you are unsure what you are doing. Take LOTS of photos of everything before you take something apart! Believe me, when it comes time to put it back together, you will probably not remember how.

None of the numbers you quoted appear to be valid QT serials. Serials are typically stamped directly into the WOOD of the machine. I own a few QT's, but not a Sweetheart model.

[BEER4U]

Howdy Dave,
Yes I did, in a very convoluted way.
I was emailed some pics from a family member asking me how
much they could get to sell it. I thought this ought to be fun
to find out, so I contacted a nice enough guy in Virginia for pricing, but
he wanted to know how much I wanted? So I went back and asked
how much they wanted for it and found out they didn't own it, but
saw it on Craigslist and they was looking to see if it was worth
their asking price.(that's not how they phrased it to me ). Any ways,
they said never mind they didn't want to pay that much in the end.
Now I was hooked, I always wanted one of these so I went ahead
found the CL listing and contacted the seller and ended up buying
it myself. He said it should work fine, but still trying to get that first
nickel to go through. I was really fascinated with the Yuengling connection,
that it used to belong to one of the Yuengling brothers (Dohrman, was his
next door neighbor back in the day). I was thinking about painting
it a color scheme that would remind you of Yuengling beer!
But that's how I ended up with it, luck. He mentioned he had people waiting
to pick it up from out of town, one from Altoona and one from York I think.

[BEER4U]

Thanks Mike for the manual. (Can they just copy a book and resell it?
I would think the publisher would have issues with that and the authors
not getting any money for the book sold.)
Maybe I'll wait for awhile to see if an actual copy pops up soon.

The numbers I stated are stamped into the wood, on the outside.
Should there be something stamped on the inside? I didn't see anything,
but will look this weekend.

Good idea of taking the pictures before dissemble.

[kepmr]

You can buy a new copy of the ( Owner's complete Guide To The Mills Q.T. Slot Machine) from

Hoflin Publishing ltd for $50.00 plus $4.00 postage 303-420-2222

I bought one last year great book.

[flipper77]

Sweetheart QT one of the neatest fun to play machines! That mechanism sound - quick clicks - unique to the later model QT! Here is my chrome Sweetheart. Had the handle made special for this. Here is the serial in the wood on top - 24189 for this one. Paper label on inside as well (you can see the paper label on left side in the mech pic). Good luck getting yours in operation. Nice that it is nickel denomination.

Flip

[TheFatman]

Well, glad to see a new collector starting out in a big way. Kinda how i started but with the standard Mills mechs. Like advised.... take more pictures than you think you need... because you will need them if you disassemble it and or the jackpot mech. I am in the West Philly area so if I can help you in any way just holler. I am working on Bally EM's now because I can get them easier than the old mechanical ones. Except when one shows up at the right price, and that you have found. Good way to start. Congrats
Dave F

[andydotp]

That's a beauty flip. I'm not green with envy,,,honest
Penny was the norm for QT's wasn't it? I know they made a nickel but far fewer I believe.
a.p

[BEER4U]

kepmr: Thanks for the phone number to the publisher.
I'll probably give them a call, because I can use all the
reference I can get to get this up and running.

flipper77: Sweet looking machine. I really like that
chrome look. To the right side of the heart shape,
opposite side of the lock, there's a round pillar that
is in the casting. The seller told me there used to be
a nickle mounted there, was that common do you
know?(or what ever the denomination of the machine was).

I went back and checked the serial number again on the top
of the machine and although it reads "Z24931QX" the "Z", "1",
"Q" and "X" were definitely added at a later time because
the font,the size, and the depth of those are clearly different
then the "2493". I'm thinking that is the actual serial number.

Dave F: Thanks for the offer of assistance, I'll take all the help I can get.
I'm really pumped to start in on this. Would it be ok to pull the metal frame
out and spray the hinge parts with carb cleaner to loosen them up?
I just wanted to see it work some before redoing it, the curiosity of
have a new toy is killing me not to see it working now.

B4U