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I was very intrigued by this machine last week at the Morphy Auction. I don't think I have ever seen this Mills Novelty Co. King Midas Slot Machine / Crown Front. Does anyone have any info about this?

Here is a link to the auction, http://auctions.morphyauctions.com/LotD ... yid=246010

I was equally intrigued by this machine. One which I had never seen before. Now the research begins!
How about it Monti. Have you ever come across this model in all your Casino years? If so, was it designed
for a specific Casino? That is my first guess. Freddy Bailey may also be the one to shed some light on this
model, as he has seen way-much-more than all of us.

I thought it might be a a British casting revamp of some sort.( or dutch).= just the castings.
1) goose neck type mechanics.
2) wood cabinet of a non -goose neck type machine, with castings to match that shape.
3) the improved mills handle of 1938 (?).
4) metal award card, a bit different than what they used.
5) bolts holding the casting on ,newer looking than the rest.
6) reel strips in Silver (1946 / 47 introduction date).
7) yellow painted inside the back door = ?
hand load for the J.P. , a late 1940's feature for mills.
sounds a bit fishy to be a 100 % Mills factory product, since these features related to a goose neck were already gone on the rest of the line.
so a revamp of some sort to keep the old machine alive.... by who ?
I liked it , found it an interesting machine , no issues owning it. And don't recall seeing another one of hand.

any clue who owns i now ?? be nice to get more information of it's insides, ect.
jeff H.

The King Midas (aka Crown Front) was introduced by Mills in Oct 1937.
Clearly it did not catch on like many other models they came out with in that time frame, like the Castle Front or War Eagle.
Perhaps it was, at least in part, because goosenecks were on the way out of style and it couldn't compete with their other earlier goosenecks, Lion Head and Skyscraper.
Bueschel mentions the Crown Front in at least one of his books.

Interesting !! will have to see if I can find any reference for it.
Bueschel never made mention of it in his "the coin slot" series, listing the dates of other machines , And not on any "master" list of Mills made machines by other collectors / dealers that I have found. I'm compiling a "full " list of mills machines ; slots, trade stims., uprights ,ect. all by introduction date.

maybe test examples were taken to locations, no one played them / wanted to buy one... o.k. ,next design please. but, one would assume there would be a reference by mills, in some sales ad.
thank you for the information.
jeff H.
I guess the buyer got themselves a really good deal on it in this auction.