Mills Puritan question

[kentdun]

I have a Mills Puritan I bought jammed and no keys. I found a key for the rear cash box. After hours of unsuccessful picking I was able to jimmy the other panels. Run fine. Every 6th nickel drops to the front box.
I have other trade stimulators that are an even split and one that is a 3 to 1 split.
Were the Puritans adjustable? If they were the split could be negotiated between the owner and the location.
Thanks in advance. I know I am not the only one that appreciates the wealth of knowledge here and the willingness to share it.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

There are several trade stimulators that have a percentage-divider feature, and they are not all the
same split, as you have noticed in others you have. There are no adjustable dividers that I have ever
seen. They are a solid, one piece cam, affixed to a shaft. You would have to make an entire new cam,
with less or more notches, to change the percentage, but why you would want to do this for a machine
that is no longer on location, would be a big pain. Of all the machines that I have restored or worked on,
with a divider feature, I have never paid any attention if some 'like models' had different percentage cams.
Now that you have brought this up, I am going to start looking at some of mine, to see if any of the mfrs.
may have done some by special order for their customers. Being as most all of the early builders are now
history, everything has to be learned 'hands-on', and that is what I have always enjoyed. The late Dick
Bueschel and I were turning up many old records, and advertisements, back in the 70's & 80's, and Dick
found much more than I, but not enough to learn every make, model & feature. I have had machines that I
thought was one manufacturer, because of a similar design or feature, only to find out later, that it was
a machine that another company copied, and made slight changes. Back in the very early years of mfg.,
there were law suits on a monthly basis, with all of the copy-catting going on. That is what I think is the
reason that some scarce models, that went through design changes, and copying, are in short numbers
today, because of many getting destroyed when they were new. There are several machines, that I have
original advertisements for, that Have never surfaced in real life. On the other hand, there have been
machines turn up, that I have never seen in an ad. I don't think we will ever 'See It All'.

[rogers1313]

I too have a Mills Puritan trade stimulator. To add to this discussion mine throws one nickel after the sixth nickel. I was told by another collector that all of puritans work on this formula.
I was wondering if anybody has a quarter mechanism for a puritan that the would part with.
Thanks,
Roger

[SLOT DYNASTY]

Before we carry on with this thread any farther, I would like to clarify something.
First of all, are we talking about a Mills "Puritan", or a "Puritan Bell"? The fist "Puritan" model was cast iron,
which they later made in aluminum, with some slight changes. Mainly with the coin entry. Both of these early
variations may have had differences in the percentage divider as well. Then there was the later version, also
in aluminum, called the "Puritan Bell", which came in two variations, and the divider may not be the same in
those either. As for coin denomination, all "Puritans", (as far as I know), were all nickel play. Only the later
version of the "Puritan Bell" came in quarter play, as well as nickel. From the time that Dick Bueschel and I
started logging machine serials, He later focused only on the Slot Machine serials, and passed the duty of the
Trade Stimulator serials off to me. Since that time, I have received many 5c "Puritan Bell" serials, but only a
very small number of 25c models. I have only received somewhere around a dozen serials from them. One other
thing that I am trying to find out about other 25c model owners, is if their machine was rigged as a cheater,
from the Mills factory. I question this because, several years ago, when I was restoring one of my 25c models,
I noticed on the mechanism, that one stop of the star wheel on the third reel had been plugged, which could have
been done very easily, by an greedy operator. But after cleaning all the parts, and taking a closer observation, I
was totally shocked to see that the stop was not plugged, it had never been cut out at the factory. Apparently
someone ordered it this way, but I am sure they didn't just do one of them. But, to date, the two or three people
that have checked their 25c models for me, have not found a gaffed star wheel. Not only that, the stop that is not
cut out, is the Bar on the third reel. So there is no way in Hell, one would ever get the three bars. If any others do
happen to show up, I would be especially interested to see if the serial numbers are in consecutive order.

[rogers1313]

So the Mills Puritan had the smaller windows for the reels and only came in nickels denim.
The Mills Puritan bell was only in aluminum and had the larger reel windows and came in 5cent,10 cent and 25 cent models. When were the puritan bells produced?

[kentdun]

Here is a picture of the machine I was asking about. It is a Puritan Bell. (Aluminum)
I didn't have any desire to change the split. I was just curious if it was adjustable. Knowing now that is fixed, I would like to know if they were all 1 to 5 split or if other options were available.
I looked for a serial number. Couldn't find one on the outside, just a paper label inside # 02997.
Can I assume thee didn't have much paint on them? I see some red and a little yellow. I like leaving things as original as possible.

[Frank]

My nickel Puritan Bell (aluminum) splits 5 for one.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

rogers1313:
Yes, all "Puritan" models had three small reel windows, w/number strips, and 5c play only.
Early & Late "Puritan Bell", had one large reel window, w/fruit or number strips, and 5c or 25c play only.
There was never any of these models produced in 1c or 10c play.

kentdun:
Thanks for the pix of your "Puritan Bell", and the serial. It is the later 1926 model, and yes, they only painted
very few areas of the case, and only with red & yellow colors. As for your serial 2997, it is very special to me,
as one of my 5c models is #2996. Lucky you had the small serial sticker inside the case, as most are missing,
because of the glue drying out, and the paper falling off. It appears that your front door is original, therefore
the same serial number should be stamped into the left side of the door, and may not have the zero in front
of the number. Most all recast front doors, that have been made by several persons over the years, do not
have a number, because they were either sanded out before the recast process, or were washed-out, and so
faint, that you can't read them. Plus, the door is usually slightly shrunk, if it wasn't built-up.
Additionally, I would like to get the serials from any other "Puritan" or "Puritan Bell" machines you have, for
my Update Files, that I have been logging since the late 1970's. If it's a "Puritan", I need to know if it is cast
iron or aluminum. Serials on these models, were not always in the same spot. Many were stamped in the outside
center of the back door. I have found some that didn't get stamped. As for the "Puritan Bell", most serials were
stamped on the left outside of the front door, but I have found a couple, that were stamped on the upper right,
next to the award card. On these, I need to know if it is a early or late model. Fruit or Number strips, and 5c or
25c play. If you do not know the difference between a early or late model ----- the early model does not have a
removable front door. When you unlock the lock, the upper casting with the award card lifts off, and is a fancier
casting, without a plated removable card frame. Instead, the card is installed from the inside of the lid, with a
backing plate & bar w/2 screws, or 2 individual tabs w/screws.
Bill

[SLOT DYNASTY]

MORE COIN-DIVIDER INFO.
After checking through my records, and photo files, there was a feature on a couple
of early model cast iron "Puritan" models, that did have a changeable 5 to 1, or 7 to 1 split.
But that was originally initiated by Caille, and Puritan Machine Co. models. I do not show
that Mills carried this feature over to any of their models. Through further research, I may
just find out differently.

[rogers1313]

My Puritan bell is an aluminum model. It is serial number 10429 stamped on the lower left hand edge of the front door. Where does this model fall in creation date?
Thanks,
Roger

PS on the upper right hand edge is another number 120