Buckley Digger

[gamblingman]

A while back I purchased a 1930's Buckley Jewel Box digger that was sitting in the back of a guys garage. I was there to buy a Mills Castle Front that had been completely painted John-Deere Green inside and out! (Diamond in the rough) I bought the slot, but was intrigued more by the digger. It was in rough shape, but I made an offer and was politely told "it wasn't for sale". Long story short, they guy decided he wasn't going to restore it anytime soon, and he called and we made a quick deal. Little did I know, that was the start of some strange addictive fascination with art-deco claw machines. I have had many slots over the years, but for some reason these things really interest me, and I spend so much time working in my shop, my wife now calls them "the other women". lol

Jim Roller helped me a lot by supplying some parts and pointing me in the right direction for others, and this forum also helped with some of the contacts I have made. I found a great chrome shop just a couple of miles from my home thanks to this group, and I also had several parts re-cast at Leerock Foundary from examples I "borrowed", as well as some patterns that I made. (Again thanks to this group) At one point I was so desperate for a prize chute door, that I spoke to a Chicago company about using a 3D printer to have a pattern created. It was a little cost-prohibitive, but I can see this technology really being useful in the very near future for restorers to re-create those rare and hard to find pieces. It will probably also be a curse as well, as the repro guys will have another tool at their disposal, and it will be really hard to tell them from the original.

At any rate, as I am working through the restoration process on Buckley #1, I suddenly found myself acquiring several other parts and pieces, and I am now a couple of parts away from a second digger project...namely a Buckley Treasure Island. With the Jewel Box restoration well underway, I have started stripping the cabinet of Buckley #2, figuring I can do them both together! (what a sucker) lol. Once I get a little further along, I will post some before and during pictures...the "after" pictures may be a ways out, as the cabinets were in very rough shape and are needing quite a bit of TLC. Last week, a gracious collector sold me the Treasure Island face plate that I was searching for, so now I am only short the switch mechanism, a pulley, and a piece of window trim for the second Buckley. I can make a generic pully work, and I can update the electrical switch to a more modern design if I have to, but I wanted to keep everything as original as possible.

So my request to the group is that you join my quest and keep an eye out for anyone having any Buckley parts for sale or barter. If you see or hear of anything...especially an electrical trip switch or a piece of a Deluxe window trim, please let me know. I will be wonderful to see these two units operating again after sitting for all of these years. Thanks

[clubconsoles]

Here is my restoration, finally finished!
its all done now (at last)
I put some trinkets in so my son could demonstrate how he could win his mum a mother day gift!
A few pieces left over , as follows:-
I have some repro corner piece rosettes left over as well as some extra starburst front and side door trims i had made.
I also have a spare boom locator gear and assembly (original) that needs minor repair for sale.
I wont be restoring anymore Buckley's due to high costs of replacing trim and ageing pot metal parts.
Now its done, though, I have to say they look a $ million $$$!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBNc_1mb_1I