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Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:53 am
by oldslotman
mills slot.JPG
Anyone know what this machine is called?

Re: Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:40 am
by Midcoast Vintage
It is a mils F.O.K. with a jackpot conversion front.
This particular front is fairly rare.
I have only seen it a couple times.
I believe it is a silver king conversion from indianapolis, indiana.
A guy here in town had one for sale about a year ago.
I remember the machine, as i sold him a reward card for it.
As i recall, his reel strips said SILVER KING under each jackpot bar symbol.
Look on the inside at the back of the front casting.
There may be a casting number, with a letter code to help identify it.

Re: Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 5:05 pm
by randyjaco
What does the FOK stand for ?

Randy

Re: Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 7:41 pm
by SLOT DYNASTY
I have seen several of the Mills models using this front casting. Most of which were on many export models.
I remember Dick Bueschel and I discussing this casting, many years ago, as it was quite strange, in comparison
to most other fronts. I don't remember Dick saying anything about a Silver King connection, but anything can
be possible, with all the revamping that was going on. Silver King was one of the well known Slot revampers
of the time, which even carried over to Trade Stimulators, and most of their change-overs were done with
more precise work with the patterns on the inside. Some others were not done as well on the inside. I have
a Mills "Operator Bell Owl" with a Pace Triple-Jack front conversion, that looks all cobbled-up on the inside.
Even the pattern matching on the front, is not all that great either. What I really think was done to it, was
they took one of their standard Pace conversion fronts, and added the triple-jack section to it afterwards.
It may have also been a 'one-shot' deal, as I have never seen another front exactly like it. There aren't that
many triple-jack fronts around, and most are 'dummies' that do not dump. The payout is from a special set
of slides, that are only on these models. Jennings also made a similar model, but their castings were made
a lot better, and were only used on their own machines. Not used as revamps on other manufacterers. If
you are saying that the conversion on this "F.O.K." is Silver King, only because of the reel strip markings on
the other one you seen, that is a possibility, but the part that seems strange to me, is why Silver King would
make this revamp front, and leave a Mills Owl logo on it. Talk about good grounds for a lawsuit! Now I have
to dig through my archives, and photo files, to see just how many of these lower front castings have the owl
logo on them.
I'm sure that many of us would be interested to see pics of any machines that our readers have, with this
front casting, to see how many different configurations there might be. I for one, would also like to hear
from anyone that has any 'triple-jack' front conversions, as I would be interested in building my photo file
history, with as many as possible. Sheffler made a triple-jack conversion front, that is usually found on the
Mills "F.O.K." models, that has a much nicer style than others.

Oh, and to answer Randy's question: The "F.O.K." model, stands for Front OK. The word 'Front', usually
pertained to the Front vender feature, and the 'OK' was for the Future-Pay feature, seen in the small window
on the slant, below the reels, that payed a trade token, on the second coin played. Many revamps, using the
"F.O.K.", do not have the Future-Pay mechanism, therefore the award card does not have a window cut-out,
in that area, but has a solid area, with the word Mills, as in the machine shown above.

Re: Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 9:51 pm
by tmillie
This machine is on one of my upcoming auctions. You can see more images of this particular slot if you follow this link then click the auction image gallery. I'm looking forward to more feedback!

http://www.theauctionmill.com/auction/2 ... e-auction/

Re: Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 4:40 pm
by randyjaco
Thanks SD. That is an interesting tid bit. I have trying to come up word strings for that acronym. It would have taken a while to figure that one out :o

Randy

Re: Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 5:40 pm
by Midcoast Vintage
tmillie wrote:This machine is on one of my upcoming auctions. You can see more images of this particular slot if you follow this link then click the auction image gallery. I'm looking forward to more feedback!

http://www.theauctionmill.com/auction/2 ... e-auction/


looks like a great auction with plenty of great stuff.
one problem is, nebraska is an illegal state for slots.
it would sure suck to buy one, or all of them, and get busted and lose them...plus go to jail... before getting across the border into a legal state.
it is one thing when you here about a machine, and make a private transaction... no one knows about it.
BUT, when slots are advertised for sale in an illegal state, the law can see the ad, watch what happens, and bust the buyer as soon as they take possession.

Re: Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 4:04 pm
by nvmos2
tmillie:

Nice machine;
as mentioned above, it would be good to have a look at the back side of the front casting to help definitely identify the revamp front.

Could the owner/auctioneer post a photo of the back of the jackpot front?
It MIGHT come off the machine very easily; the lock is missing; just lift slightly up and away.
(Otherwise, if the front is attached to the case, it would be necessary to remove the mechanism and take a photo of the inside of the case.)
Also it would be good if you could provide a photo of the machine with the front casting off/ or of the mech while it's out of the case.

What is the serial number of the machine (stamped into the wood along top edge)?
Does it match number stamped into metal coin head?

Re: Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:52 pm
by tmillie
Theoldslotman and I will take several pictures when we pick up the machines.

Re: Mills slot machine ??????

PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 10:36 pm
by sam2002
Do we have to be in person to bid ?
Can we bid online ?