Mills Sweetheart Info

[Robfar]

I have the opportunity to buy a 5 cent mills sweatheart slot. It is an orange/tan speckled finish front with wood sides. The paint on the front is shot and the front is made of cast iron. It is missing the small back door and the 2 locks. It works great though. Is it worth the $700 asking price? It is not very good looking slot in this color and condition but I have seen some that are chrome that look great. If the paint was in good condition I would leave it. Were the chrome ones the same machine just that they were chromed instead of just painted? Was it chrome or nickle? Is the value there to put this much into it? Not sure. Thanks for any info

[Robfar]

Nobody on this site has any info on a Mills QT Sweetheart Slot Machine?

[Midcoast Vintage]

They are basically the same machine, just a different color scheme.
I have never been a fan of that rough glitter finish, which was also used on diamond fronts, in assorted colors, green, red, yellow, silver.
The rough finish is a dust magnet, and, after years of collecting dust, they end up looking really dirty.
I have had some that had no chips, and were in decent shape, and after a ride through the dishwasher, actually looked decent.

they were chrome, not nickel.

A back door, and, replacement locks should be easily found on ebay, as they do turn up there.
Dave Berten may have them as well.
If it is in decent shape, and, it runs, $700. is a good / fair price to pay.
Hope this info helps.
good luck.

[Robfar]

Very helpful. Thank you

[neocoinops]

I agree, $700 for a working sweetheart QT is pretty good. Since it is cast iron, it can easily be chrome plated. The sweetheart was originally chrome plated, but just before WWII, chrome became unavailable, so Mills switched to the glitter finish. There are replacement locks and back door on ebay right now. Original locks are fairly rare and can get expensive ($125).

I also recommend getting a copy of "Owners Complete Guide to the Mills QT St Machine" by Saul & Geddes. It contains everything you will want to know about QTs. It is available on Amazon.

[watlingboy]

Just a note, the couple of cast iron Sweethearts I restored that were painted had really rough castings. The castings had been heavily filled and primed under that paint. Lots of pits and small holes. If your casting are like that, you should consider repainting it because plating would be very expensive or very unsatisfactory if the voids and pits were not filled.

Watlingboy

[Robfar]

Thanks for all the advice. Does anyone reproduce that kind of orange glitter paint? Has anyone tried to repair that finish?