Van Meter slot machine conversion

[tsparts4u]

Does anyone have any information on a company called Van Meter, that did conversions of slot machines?
Here is what appears to have started out as a Mills goose neck slot machine from the early 20's that was converted to what looks very much like a Mills Castle Front slot machine. Similar, but not the same castings. It has a strange payout. It is a 10 stop 2-4 payout as 10 stop machines are, except that this one pays a jackpot in excess of 40 coins on the bell combination and gives a gold award token for the 3 bar combination. What appears to be the jackpot and reserve jackpot on the lower front casting is only for display. It does not drop.
The award card, I have reproduced from the original worn card that it came with does not have Bell-Fruit on the bars but instead has Van Meter on the bar symbols. Any other information or comments on this machine would be appreciated. Thank you.

[nvmos2]

Interesting.............

You probably saw that one of these recently sold on flebay for $1400.
If not, it's still in completed auctions; number 252374723000
That one was serial number 211036, it had a Mills decal on the side, but a Pace mechanism (or at least Pace reel strips).
The seller was not helpful and did not know what he had.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

The machine pictured above is indeed a Van Meter revamp, hence the "V" in the upper casting, and the name in the bar symbols.
I picked one of these up many years ago, and knew nothing about it, until Dick Bueschel found out very little, but was never able
to pinpoint it's exact origin, and time-frame. I do have a letter from him in my files about it, but ended with, "will let you know
more, after I research it further". I never did anything to mine, and has the same upper & lower castings, painted blue, gold award,
non-operating JP, etc. I did find it rather interesting, that the coin entry part of the upper casting, has a similar style design as on
the Mills "Roman Head", only this one has squares, and the "RH" has circles. I would really like to find out more about this revamper.
Never thought of it before, but, maybe there is a slim chance that Freddy Bailey might have some interesting input.

The machine that was on eBay, was originally listed at $1,799.00, and didn't sell. Then was relisted at $1,399.99, and sold to the
person above. This is the same exact machine, only has been repainted green, and a new award card created. Maybe he will let us
know if there is a paper glued inside the case with additional info. I have a sticker in mine, but it was illegible, but does still have
a Mills decal on the left side of the case only, as this one does, but not shown here.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

I just checked the pics of this machine, when it was on eBay, and it does show a large paper
glued to the inside wall of the case. It may just be the original Mills info, but I am sure the
owner can tell us what is legible on it.
When I mentioned the "V" in the upper casting above, I failed to indicate the "V" in the lower
casting as well. This revamper went though a lot more casting changes than the norm. Even
to the extent of the design of the back bonnet. This one here, also has a large protrusion at
the top part of the back door, which I am not sure why, as there is nothing on the mechanism
that needs clearance in that area. My door does not have that.

[Anglobritish]

Hi Guy's,
Sorry the only indication to me that it could be a British award card is the 2-12 payout, that was the amount the British law allowed for the Old Penny fruit machines (Slot Machines) to pay out. other than that the word "Van Meter" sounds to be Dutch (Netherlands) ?.

Freddy Bailey

[nvmos2]

This is the SAME machine as the one on flebay?
wow...... that was a quick turnaround.

tsparts;
looks nice, but why the color change?
The dark bluish/green looked like it was in good shape.
Did you find that it was originally lighter green?

There is one Van Meter listed in the serial number list;
Number 245318 is a 5 cent with a triple jack pot front.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

If whichever Forum member, that listed the Van Meter revamp machine into our serial number data base,
could forward me any photos of it, to my personal e-mail, (slotdynasty@sbcglobal.net), it would be most
appreciated. I have been doing some extensive research, and have a large photo file, of the many revamps,
that were performed to the early style gooseneck "Operator Bell" series. Mainly on Mills & Jennings models.
I am especially interested in this one, as it is listed as a Triple-Jack. There are several three jackpot castings
that were done by revampers, but I don't believe that have ever seen one on a Van Meter example. Most all
3 JP castings are for looks only. There is one model by Bull Durham, that has a fully functional, and quite
elaborate, three jackpot payout unit, that is a work-of-art. That is the only one that has been done in such
a meticulous fashion.
Thank you in advance, for any response. Bill

[tsparts4u]

The Van Meter machine that we just purchased from ebay has NOT been repainted green or any other color. It is the same as it was on ebay. To me, it looks like a blueish green color. I guess the camera played some tricks, ha. By the way, the back door that was shown when it was on ebay is not the one we got when the machine arrived. We got a 40's Mills door with the machine. Also, the machine started out as a Mills early 20's machine with a serial number of 66660.
The jackpot payout is quite interesting. The lower part of the coin tube has a casting that moves along with the payout slides to drop additional coins over the normal 20 coin payout. The upper payout lever that normally releases all of the payout slides for a jackpot pay has been shortened so it does not release any of the lower payout levers to release any of the payout slides. It just trips a rod just above the stack of lower payout levers to release the gold award token.
As far as any paper on the inside of the machine......when the machine arrived, whatever paper was there, is now just all little bits and pieces, and we are not able to read anything that might have been on it.