Fantastic Find????

[Dave]

Well, I have been trying to downsize the collection (http://ibuyoldslots.com/forSale.php) but when an opportunity to buy a rare machine presents itself I just cannot resist. I have not yet informed my wife of the latest purchase

I was contacted about this machine on Tuesday and bought it yesterday (Wednesday) morning. I was just notified by FedEx that they have picked up the machine so I can let the cat out of the bag.

It is a very early Rol-A-Tor. What makes it so unique is that it is a Rol-A-Tor (somewhat rare) quarter machine (more rare) with the gold award feature (much more rare) and has a very unusual bottom casting (much much more rare). FYI, this casting is 100% correct for this machine. The machine has the correct back door (no W) for an early Rol-A-Tor and also the cash box.

Unfortunately, someone spray bombed the machine gold so it needs to be restored. The mechanism and wood sides / base look pretty nice though and all the gold award hardware is in the machine.

The machine was found by a picker. It was in an estate sale and this machine along with another machine (Mills Bursting Cherry) were found behind a false wall in a basement. The kids of the parents were not aware of these machines. Who knows, the machines may have been in the house when their parents bought the house years ago. I was told it had to have been in the false wall for decades.

The people running the estate sale contacted the picker because they didn't want to deal with the machines because they were in a state where all slot machines are illegal.

The picker bought both machines and contacted me and some other collectors and I ended up with this one. I think he wants to keep the Bursting Cherry for himself. He knew this machine was much more valuable than the Bursting Cherry.

The machine doesn't look that hot right now but once it is restored it should really be a nice piece.

I have only seen one other Rol-A-Tor that had this style of bottom casting.

Once the machine is restored I will post another photo.

[Mike Gumula]

Very nice find !

Mike Gumula

[Rick-okc]

I have a dime Rol-A-Tor but nothing as interesting as this one. Great find!

[HSaidman]

You posted:

I was contacted about this machine on Tuesday and bought it yesterday (Wednesday) morning. I was just notified by FedEx that they have picked up the machine so I can let the cat out of the bag.

I find it sad that we cannot buy something in this hobby, and not worry that another collector will not interfere with the deal. Why do you have to wait until it is on a FedEx truck, or in your possession.

We all negotiate when we buy a car. Many of us will say, I got a great deal on this new car and I pick it up at the dealer next week. Or I left a deposit on a house, and we go to settlement next week.

It appears in this hobby is one of the only times where you can purchase something, and until it is in your possession you do not feel safe about having "bragging rights" on it.

I find that extremely sad, and something that is destroying this field.

[Dave]

You posted:

......

I find it sad that we cannot buy something in this hobby, and not worry that another collector will not interfere with the deal. Why do you have to wait until it is on a FedEx truck, or in your possession.

....

Ever hear the saying, loose lips sink ships?

There are some people who will do anything to get a machine. Even if a deal has been struck and money has changed hands. I myself have been burned more than once, when I have struck a deal with a seller and the deal fell apart at the 11th hour because another person heard about it and got involved.

No need to go into details though.

I think the fault, more often than not, is on the seller though. In my experience, it is not uncommon at all for the seller to continue to try and get a better price even after a deal has been reached.

Fortunately, I don't think this was the case with the Rol-A-Tor. I think the seller was a pretty straight shooter.

Bottom line is I think these problems are true with any area of collecting. It is not isolated to coin-op.

[Badpenny]

The issue of worrying about losing a deal when buying a machine applies in UK to a degree as well.

I think it's unfortunate; but don't feel it is comparable to buying a house or a car. They're still being built everyday, antique/vintage machines aren't and there are only so many of them available. Therefore market forces and vendor greed are in charge.

It's been done to me, I can't imagine circumstances when I would do it to somebody else. It's a small hobby in a small world and reputations are fragile.
Certainly in The UK everybody can name those very few over here whose lack of conscience drive their actions.

Then again, even if peer group pressure were to reign supreme within the hobby locally, you can't expect someone who has no interest in the hobby at all, but has inherited a heap of old rust and wants the best price they can get to be fair about it.

I don't think it's seriously affecting the hobby anything like the current ongoing cock up by the world banks is.

[Dave]

Well, I just put the machine up on display.

Here is the finished product.

Quite a change from when I found it.

Dave

[cpdretired]

There goes you allowance.
Ron