Polk Re-Issues

[Anglobritish]

Gentlemen and Others,
Find attached some pictures of the Polk figures that I owned in 1981. This will be my last post to CoinOpCollector as I feel a slight sarcasumn in your posts. I have stayed away from several coin op collectors web sites over the years because of just such situations.

Several of you who know me, know that I lost most of my collection in a mysterious fire that was started at a warehouse that was shipping my collection to my home in Ireland in 1982, my collection was not insured at the time, and not only did I lose my collection, but I alkso lost 40 brand new Video Games that was also in that warehouse, also not insured, also for the non-believers, I lost a further $11,000.000 in stock when the public company that I sold 45% of my business to went bust.

I hope you all enjoy your web site.

Freddy Bailey

[TheFatman]

Please dont leave because of a few. The majority of people benifit fronm your experience and knowledge. Dont let the many who care, be deprived because of the few that really dont care.
Dave F
AKA The Fatman

[Billyzap]

Great collection too bad it was burned up......items that can never be replaced. A lesson to be learned for all of us. Keep good records and insurance. And a good fire suppression system.....

[Anglobritish]

Hi Guy's,
Thank you for your very kind words, I get so aggrivated with some collectors, who are not really collectors, but merely tinkers. I have a saying "The difference between Men and Boys, are the price of their Toys", I am not as wealthy as I was in the 1980's, when I made 100 Video Games a day, and ploughed much of the profits into my collection of coin operated machines.

But I am still in the business, and living life to the full with my beautiful 35 year old wife (Been with me since she was 22 years old) and gorgious daughter of 9 years old.

BIlly we are coming to the Chicagoland show with 4 new books that I am writing, one of them is "Who was Who in the Coin Machine Industry in the 1930's" when I write about these coin machine hero's, I feel their comradery, the same as me and my opposites had in the 1980's, when we were producing vast numbers of video games, now sadly the manufacturers today are all slide rule people, with no passion for what they do.

Billy when I come to Chicago, I will take you to one of my favorite places, if it is still there, "Gene & Gorgetti's" at 400 Franklin Street. I used to go to the "Como Inn" but I know that closed, and as for the stories, I will tell you stories about events that happened in the 1970's when the A.M.O.A shows were held at The Hyatt in Mccormick place., and the comradery was still there.

I don't know if you have heard of Marty Bromley, the founder of SEGA, well Marty died five years ago, he was the Guru of the coin machine industry around the World. I am at this time writing a screen play based on his life, Marty's father was the largest coin machine distributor on the east coast, Marty was a billionaire, but he was Class with a capital C.

See you in Chicago, is "Mr. Kelly's" still there, I used to go there to listen to Buddy Greco.

Best Wishes.

Freddy Bailey

P.S See attached some of my other "ToyS' from the 1980's.

[Dave]

Hi,
Frank Polk did make a deal to reproduce his machines, the deal was put together through the late Ron Brooks in Virginia City, Ron acted as the agent for Frank Polk, it was announced in one of the Loose Change magazines, I will look it up and post it on the CoinOpCollectorForum.

Some of the members seem to think that Chris Davis is the best Authority on the Frank Polk subject, although Chrid had the largest collection, the best authority on Frank Polk figures is John Herman in Los Angeles, in 1981 I bought the only two soldiers that Frank Polk carved, I paid $22,000 + fees, at that time this was the highest price paid for Frank Polk figures.

In the late 1970's The Bucket of Blood casino in Virginia City threw out around 20 Polk figures, Ron Brooks who had a turn of the century store that he created across the street from the casino, he took the figures in, I was once on vacation in the area, and met Ron Brookes (An ex Hells Angel), I drank with him for three day's to get him to sell me a Polk Miner with a Pace mechanism in it. I had to finally buy his Auburn Roadster as well. I paid $9,000 for the Polk figure and $23,000 for the Auburn, Frank Polk then came and signed all of Ron's Polk figures. Ron was a great character.

Freddy Bailey

I am no expert on recent sales prices of Polk figures, however, $22k in 1981 is quite an investment! In today's dollars at a conservative 2% inflation we're talking over $80k!! I hope there's a market out there that will pay $40k per Polk figure.

$22K at 2% compounded annually for 33 years is closer to $42K, not $80K

[YourBestBet]

$22K at 2% compounded annually for 33 years is closer to $42K, not $80K

Thanks Dave. You are right. I must have doubled my calculation by mistake. I thought it looked unreasonably high!

[Anglobritish]

To address the guy that thinks I am seeking attention and boasting of the wealth I HAD not Have.

Firstly I will address the point made that is a Polk figure worth $40.000 well I also cannot afford to pay those figures anymore, but believe me there are more than 15% of collectors that not only can, but would be delighted to obtain such a rare collectable.

I cannot understand why so many collectors do not want to be educated on why such machines command such high prices, As any one ever been to one of those Arizona Car auctions where they pay not only highg prices, but crazy prices in my opinion, why would I have such a stupid opinion, because I do not collect cars. but that does not mean that I am right in my thinking about cars, do you think that people like Jay Leno craves attention because he pays such High prices for cars, he pays those prices because he loved his hooby and can afford to pay for something that he may never get the chance to find again.

I felt the same when I paid so much for the TWO polk figures, I was like that collector Swami, he started collecting coin oiperated machines and fell in love with Polk figures, Chris also as one of the best Jennings slot machine collections at his home, just two years ago he wanted to buy a Polk Indian from My good friend (Who by the way, suggested I write my new book) Henri Krijenen in the Netherlands, he offered in access of $90,000 and Frank Polk carved more Indians than he did soldiers.

There is just over 60 polk figures still known to exist, and of the 92 figures that Frank Polk carved, only two of them was the soldiers, as a collector, if you had the funds would you not want to have the only two machines that exist in the World, believe me I would have morgaged my house to raise the funds to get them.

Three years ago a man who was building a very art novou house in North Carolina paid $120.000 for a Gabel Kuro jukebox, why, because he had the funds to buy it. Any Gabel Phonograph sold previously would have been pushed to get $3,000 for it.

When I started out collecting in the late 1960's, I drove all over Europe in a van that leaked in more water when it was raining, than if you were stood outside in the rain. I wheeled and dealed with a bank roll of less than $1,000 and out of that I had to drive all over Europe and pay to go on ferry's. I sold Jennings machines in the Paris Flea Market, I slept in my van, but I did not complain because I loved the machines I was buying.

So Sir, I do not need any attention, I am known all over the World by people in my profession, that being the operating and manufacturing coin operated equipment.

You say why have I left so many forums on the subject of coin operated machine collecting, well this forum is the only one I have joined, I joined this only after Dave generously suggested that I put my book on his site for his members to see. I am a recent member of C.O.C.A purely because I wanted to draw attention to my books on the subject.

I think you have got me all wrong. I am only trying to show collectors like yourself, the real value of collecting the best machines and their true value and why.

Good luck in your collecting.

Freddy Bailey

[SLOTMANDAVE]

Wow , Freddy Bailey, I meet Mr. Bailey a few years ago with his beautiful wife he came to my house in Swansea Ma. and bought a jukebox and a couple of other things from me he is quite a man and full of history and has some great stories I hope he stays around for a long time as he can help a lot of collectors with his vast knowledge of coin op. All I can say is he is a man I can respect and appreciate and hope to meet him again someday.
Dave Babin
Swansea, Ma.

[Midcoast Vintage]

I first met Freddy when he began trying to replace items he had lost in his fire.
He bought some literature from me, mainly some unusual Polk figure postcards, and photo's i had.He was glad to get them, and did not quibble on the price. He was a gentleman buyer, and stepped up to the plate. There are few who do .
We had various conversations via email, and phone, and, he proved to be knowledgable, way beyond most, in fact, one of the few who could be in the same class as Dick Bueschel when it comes to coin machine history. Another one who is up there is Bill Whelan.
I finally got a chance to meet him in person, and, his wife, around 2004, or so, when he purchased a v-e-r-y clean AMI model C from me when i still had my home in Winter Park, Fl.
This gentlemanly man did not tell me, but politely ASKED me if it would be alright to pick it up in person, as, he had been promising his wife a trip to Florida, and this would be the ideal time.
He was there within a couple days. We loaded the jukebox, and, talked machines for a while.
Both Freddy and his wife were very pleasant and a delight.
They are both welcome in my home anytime.
Good to see you are still active Freddy!
WELCOME ABOARD!
Dave.

[Anglobritish]

Hi Dave & Dave,
Thank you for your very kind words, I have always taken pride in treating people with respect, especially those that have class, both of you treated me and my wife very courtiously, I remember coming to Swansea, there was a lot of snow and it was difficult to park along side your house, that in it's self was a treasure chest of gaming collectables and carnival pieces.

A little different when we came to Florida, the sun was shining and Winter Park was such old world, one of my favorite area's around Orlando, I remember you had a big double garage, and our transaction was very pleasant, I cannot believe that it is around ten years ago.

Stay well my friends.

Freddy Bailey