Mills Golden Nugget machine questions

[bakerb95619]

I recently acquired a Mills Golden Nugget slot machine, and I'm trying to verify if it is authentic or not. There are several things that make me think it is original: It has a front-load jackpot, the "hydraulic" cylinder is black and sounds more like an air bellows, and there was some documentation included. Actually the documentation makes it look like this may have been a revamped machine, but that it was actually revamped by Mills. The first piece of documentation is a copy of a black-and-white "catalogue sheet" from the "Mills Bell-O-Matic Sales Company" that lists 12 machines and is signed Tony Mills. Part of the catalog was cut out and taped to the back of the machine door. This shows a "Mills Golden Falls modified by Golden Nugget Casino, Las Vegas. Beautifully painted front castings set off by Golden Nugget Dolls and Gold Nuggets. Handload Drop Jackpot, Manufactured 1939." There is also a business card taped to the door, "Mills EST 1889, SALES - OPERATION - SERVICE, 1529 Western Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, 702-384-8524, Tony Mills". There is a copy of a check made out to Mills Bell-O-Matic for $1795 dated June 2, 1980. There are two shipping invoices that show the machine was sent back to Mills just after purchase. A hand-written letter on Mills letterhead reads "Mrs. Caffe, I have adjusted your slot machine to be as loose as possible. It will get better the more you play it. Regards, Tony Mills". Are there any other things I can check to verify the authentcity of this machine, and is it considered a 1939 machine that was revemped in the 1980's? Thanks, Bill

[PA23]

Without seeing pictures of the machine (including the inside) I can't tell you for sure but it sounds like you have a reproduction.

take a look at this website http://www.royalbell.com/ and then take a look at the following web page:

http://www.ibuyoldslots.com/ReproArticle.html

If you need further help identifying the machine as an original or not please post some pictures.

Jeff

[watlingboy]

Without seeing pictures it would be difficult for anyone to give you an answer. It will be very easy with pictures.

Watlingboy

[bakerb95619]

The reproduction web page makes it look like this may have old and new parts. It has the two horizontal bars on the escalator for the coin check, as well as the two vertical bars on the mech. The base plate also looks correct, and the front-load lock uses a Mills key. However the case is definitely not formica, and the breast plate appears to be lithographed. Here are a few pictures:

http://www.collectorbills.com/gnslot1.jpg
http://www.collectorbills.com/gnslot2.jpg
http://www.collectorbills.com/gnslot3.jpg
http://www.collectorbills.com/gnslot4.jpg
http://www.collectorbills.com/gnslot5.jpg

Thanks again,
Bill

[PA23]

I think you answered your own question. You are correct the wood case is a reproduction as is the backdoor, and the mech does appear to be an original mills Mech.

Not sure about the castings, I have a feeling they are original castings (black cherry perhaps?) and had the golden nugget parts affixed.

Also, the handle return mech is a pneumatic cylinder (has a leather washer inside), I believe they are all made out of brass, they have a small adjusting screw on the back side to control how fast the handle returns.

[Dave]

Yes, the case looks like a reproduction and so is the back door.

Since it is a handload style machine I would bet the machine started it's life as either a Black Cherry or a Golden Falls.

Are the symbols in the award card stamped or lithographed? If stamped the card is original, if simply painted / lithographed then the card is a reproducction.

In addition, the design around the coin entry looks like an Extrabell coin entry (which fakes are also made).

Dave