What is this Mills Machine (Name and Date) Real or Repro

[flipper77]

Here is a "real" extrabell for comparison. Purposefully left in original rough condition. Fully Mills mech, jackpot, escalator, wood case, back door and Mills lock - just the Extrabell casting kit. Both top and bottom castings marked Extrabell boldly. Glad to post further pictures or answer any questions if there is interest. May be willing to sell at fair price if you want to PM me.

Thanks,
Flip

[sam2002]

Here is a "real" extrabell for comparison. Purposefully left in original rough condition. Fully Mills mech, jackpot, escalator, wood case, back door and Mills lock - just the Extrabell casting kit. Both top and bottom castings marked Extrabell boldly. Glad to post further pictures or answer any questions if there is interest. May be willing to sell at fair price if you want to PM me.

Thanks,
Flip

Flipper
What are the measurements across the front of the castings ? And thanks for posting the pics ! Great example of the original in its original paint .

[TheFatman]

If you now own it ... just suck it up and accept it is a reproduction casting, cabinet all the way. That is what it is, so dont hold out. Change the Fleabay ad to state it is a beautiful reproduction and go from there. If I was not a collector or restorer and just wanted a slot to put in my home or office, it would be perfect. You just might find a buyer like that ... but honesty will be the best policy, since it looks like you are just trying to turn it over. At least ... you got one hell of a good education here.
Dave F

[sam2002]

This is a picture of an unrestored original in 25 cent . I let this one go some time back .

[sam2002]

25 and an over restored 10 cent original machine . i believe the 10 cent black machine was restored by Steve Squires many years back when it was the norm to restore and over restore machines . Both machines have been sold but that cabinet is still for sale . if anyone has any interest in this big ol bulky , heavy , good looking hideaway cabinet feel free to contact me . It has been cleaned up and repainted .

[nvmos2]

Very interesting.....

Flip;
Nice looking machine!
It should be noted that the inside of the castings is not painted.

I was aware that the Extrabell was cast into the back of the castings,
but had not mentioned it;
I was hoping someone more knowledgeable than me would say if the reproductions duplicated this;
I suspect that at least some do.
You'll note that in photo below, there are the letters TK added;
I have no idea what's up with that.

How do you know the rest of the cabinet was made by Mills and not Extrabell?
I suspect that since Extrabell was made only for Mills mechanisms, they pretty much copied the Mills cabinet,
maybe right down to the last nut and bolt.

Is there a serial number anywhere on the machine?

Is your handle painted to match the front?
It should be noted that both handles of machines posted by sam2002 appear to be painted to match fronts.

Is your back bonnet painted to match front?
Does the bonnet have a MLB part number, or could it be made by Extrabell?


smokin427;
hopefully you're still here;
could you please post a photo of the inside of your machine with the mechanism removed;
it could be very helpful for comparison purposes.

[bikerjrn]

Here is my 2 cents the machine on ebay is a total repo if you look at the pull down lever it has been cut and welded to shorten it and the lower coin chute has been ground down so the mech will fit in the case and I think the TK on the extrabell castings stands for Tom Krahl as he made repo extrabells.

[sam2002]

Here is my 2 cents the machine on ebay is a total repo if you look at the pull down lever it has been cut and welded to shorten it and the lower coin chute has been ground down so the mech will fit in the case and I think the TK on the extrabell castings stands for Tom Krahl as he made repo extrabells.

That is an Interesting note on the TK possibly being Tom Krahl's initials .

[nvmos2]

Here is my 2 cents the machine on ebay is a total repo if you look at the pull down lever it has been cut and welded to shorten it and the lower coin chute has been ground down so the mech will fit in the case and I think the TK on the extrabell castings stands for Tom Krahl as he made repo extrabells.

Excellent point on the TK (also reenforced by kennyb on a different thread)

Now that I think about it, I think you are probably correct.
The photo looks like a reproduction with the sloppy paint overspray.
I pulled that photo from an unusual place;
it in the online Arcade Museum under the machine name and is just there without comment/explanation.

[flipper77]

Nvmos2 - here are pictures of the cabinet. I should have said Mills-like heavy wood cabinet. I emphasized Mills-like cabinet because a number of repo Extrabells that I have examined clearly have repo wood cases. The handle is painted blue though it appears darker than the castings - maybe well-handled in a club (reportedly came out of a club in Northern KY which was an area known for gambling). There are no Mills decals and no Mills ID on outside or inside of cabinet. My bonnet is marked MLB and painted black. No serial numbers anywhere. Flip