groetchen sparks delux jackpot

[altort]

Has any one ever seen a sparks delux jack pot?
I recently picked up this machine at the last vca auction, wasn't going to bid on it not having ever seen one before and thinking it was a fantasy made up machine, but it didn't quite look made up, parts looked right and bad sloppy paint job and it sold relatively cheap so I figured that I at least had a parts machine.
Once I received it, I went through it and it definitely looks all correct, plays properly and when 3 stars line up on the reels it releases the jack pot so it can be manually dumped by pushing the button.
I have tried to research this machine but have come up with absolutely nothing, besides the jack pot the only other differences are the coin entry and the sparks plaque next to the jack pot.

[nvmos2]

Very NICE!

I have an original advertising flyer from a distributor that shows both the jackpot and no jackpot versions.

Send me a PM with an email address and I'll send you a copy of the flyer.
They charged an extra $2 for the jackpot version; maybe that's why you don't often see them.
It's framed and hanging on the wall, but I will take it apart for you.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

Al:
You made a great purchase with the Groetchen "Sparks". The Jackpot feature is indeed factory. I had one of these years ago, but
regretfully sold it, not realizing at the time that they are now very scarce. I haven't seen many more than 2 or 3 show up since. As
you will notice on all 'star-front' casting inserts of these models, there is a small tab on the right side of that casting, that fills the
notch where the trip button goes for the jackpot model. So, you know that this was a feature that was planned when they first made
the front casting. There were three other "Sparks" models in the same auction, if you want to see what I am referring to. There are
also three different styles of SPARKS lettering on the right front. Yours appears to have the cast plate, where the other two styles are
photo-etched metal plates. The strange thing that I noticed on yours, is that it doesn't have the raised-cast coin entry like all the
others do. It just has the flat metal coin entry plate. I don't remember if the jackpot model that I had was that way as well. I will
have to find a pix of it to check. Seems to me that I have seen a couple of other non-jackpot models with the flat coin entry. But will
have to check my photo files for that as well. Maybe the cast coin entry was lost during the repaint job on yours. We'll never know. I
would be able to tell you more, if you tell me how that plate is attached, and what size holes are in the top casting.
Bill

[SLOT DYNASTY]

Al:
A follow-up on the above.............No need to send me the size of the holes for the coin entry plate. I just took a close look
at the pix of your top casting, and pix of other top castings, and see now, that Groetchen had made two different top casting
variations. The one on yours has the small raised portion that comes out under the right portion of the coin entry plate, tapered
to match the pointed shape of the plate. The other models have a larger squared raised portion, for the cast coin entry to rest
on. Why they would have made two different top castings is beyond me. Oh well - Mystery solved. This is one thing that has
made this machine hobby so interesting to me, is detecting the numerous variations that most manufacturers have produced.
Bill

[cpdretired]

Al I have been tracking eBay & VCA sales for several years. I missed this one. I would like to add this to my Trade Stimulator Price Guide. Would it be possible to tell me what you paid for it. Do not include any fees or shipping. Just the gavel price & the date purchased.
Thanks,
Ron

[altort]

Thanks to nvmos2 for sending me a copy of the original advertisement for this model.
Ron the gavel price was $325.00 before any fees, I bought it at the vca auction on 10/13/13, I almost passed on it due to lack of information on it, last second decision to bid on it and glad I did, with all the fakes and fantasy machines especially at the vca I often play it safe if not 100% sure and wont bid, and Pete is not the most up front guy even if you call him and ask him about a particular machine he talks all around the question, I have had to return a machine to him and got my money back before.
Bill as always I knew that you would have had first hand knowledge on this machine, now if I can find the correct colors that it use to be and a replacement top plate it will get restored to it's former glory.
Finding unusual machines like this is what makes this hobby so interesting, most of my collection of nearly 150 machines is based around unusual and interesting models, if I like a machine and the price is fair I will buy it, it's just to bad that all the fakes and fantasy machines are tarnishing the hobby, I have passed on many machines not wanting to get screwed.
Bill thanks to you and others on this forum it is making it safer for the rest of us to make a good purchase and get valuable information on the less common machines.
Al