leospanner wrote:I was planning on going to the auction, so I appreciate all of these comments. The numbers listed that say for the current auction in October don't seem to match the descriptions? I truly want to stay away from reproductions so I willing accept any help this forum can give me. If anyone wants to post which items at the October auction look to be reproductions I would be greatly appreciative it. I'm also interested in knowing which slot machines are bogus. Thanks to everyone who posts for this great hobby.
My following report of coin-op machines of the upcoming October VCA auction, is not just for Reproduction machines, but for Bogus and incorrect
examples as well. I can tell a lot from just a single photo, but inside shots would help even more. If you are attending the auction, you have to do
a thorough examination of anything that interests you, as many machines are just polished and repainted on the outside, to draw your attention,
and left all dirty & grubby on the inside, because most of the 'hamburgers' do not know how to work on the innards. Surprisingly, there are a very
few chosen items listed as 'Contemporary', (even though many people do not know the real meaning of the word). They stay completely away from
the word 'REPRODUCTION', even though they know full well which ones are, and they sure as hell aren't going to tell their investors that place phoney
items in the auction, that they "can't do it". God forbid! So, here we go...................
Item #1 - Originally a Buckley "Cent-A-Pack", that has had the top nameplate removed, along with the cig. strips & card, and replaced with repro fruit
strips & card. A little polish & paint, and surely nothing done inside. Does it even have a door?
Item #25 - Caesar's Palace 1990's Toy Slot from the Franklin Mint. (Not noted what it really is).
Item #89 - Groetchen "Imp" (repaint - not an original color).
Item #394 - REPRO Pace "Whiz Ball" (listed as contemporary).
Item #481 - REPRO (same as above).
Item #502 - Originally a Buckley "Cent-A-Pack", (with same stuff removed as item #1). Installed repro Groetchen "Tavern" reel strips, and a reprinted
award card, with the name "Bar Boy". This is a complete PHONEY, as there never was a such machine as a Buckley "Bar Boy". Two people
have been snookered with one of these creations in the past on eBay, and one made the Butcher take the machine back.
Item #504 - REPRO (same as #394 & 481 above).
Item #523 - (same as item #1 above).
Item #528 - Buckley machine, with orig. strips & card, but with horrible paint job.
Item #551 - Jennings "Witch". Guaranteed to be one of the many REPRO's, as there are not many originals known. Be very careful.
Item #554 - Jennings "Chief" 'light-up'. (Possibly one of the numerous Phoney made-up models from the Vegas Butcher Shop).
Item #611 - Mills "Pioneer Club" Hi-top 'light-up' with formica cabinet. (Not that familiar with this IFFY machine).
Item #666 - Yale "Wonder Clock" (Not many originals exist). If this is a pristine restoration, that's good. But it could be an excellent Repro. Only close
examination, inside and out, by an expert, will tell the true story on this one.
Item #673 - Jennings "Chief" 'light-up' console. (May also be a made-up version, and not original).
Item #725 - Exhibit "Select-Em" with home-made playfield card.
Item #731 - Rockola "Official Sweepstakes" (REPRO from the 2000's).
Item #759 - Bennett "Deuces Wild" mechanism, placed in what looks to be an old mantel clock case. (Made-up Phoney).
Item #763 - Groetchen "Sparks" (missing metal badges, and incorrect repaint).
Item #764 - Daval "Reel Dice" (with home-made reel strips and incorrect repaint).
Item #765 - Daval "American Eagle" (incorrect repaint).
Item #955 - WOW! an Original Mills 10c "War Eagle"
Where did this emerge from? GO FOR IT Boys!
Item #998 - "Smilin Sam" REPRO (and stated as such).
Item #1166 - Mills "Wizard Fortune Teller" (late model), in incorrect home-made wood case, (and stated as such).
Item #1180 - Griswold "Wheel Of Fortune" with sloppy repainted glass, and incorrect marquee frame.
Item #1181 - Late REPRO of the Drushell "Roll Skill". (These show up on eBay all the time).
Item #1203 - Rockola "Official Sweepstakes" (Looks like original with some new parts, and background scene is pieced, and not correct).
Item #1216 - Mills "Wizard Fortune Teller" (early model). Only came in 1c play. (Someone has changed to 5c play).
Item #1280 - Mills 5c "Lion Head" (Could be a restored original - but be careful, as these have been Reproduced since the 1970's).
Item #1289 - Rockola "Official Sweepstakes" (Looks like original with replaced inside parts).
Item #1367 - Mills "Dewey" with reworked Mills style head, for single coin play, Caille Lone Star name badge, and Caille Play Quarters
top sign. Has incorrect wheel, and not showing non-orig. mech. Also, possibly many recast parts, and not in cast iron.
Item #1440 - English 1d Single Wheel - That everyone likes to call a 50c "Ben Hur", which it is NOT, and never will be.
Item #1460 - Fey style REPRO 1c "3 Jacks". These have been highly reproduced, which can be easily detected from an original.
Item #1635 - Pace "Base Ball" REPRO. (Not noted).
Item #1691 - Two General Automatic Amusement REPRO Watling "Rol-A-Top" cases. (Noted as such. But you know they would not say
a thing about Repro, if they were complete, working machines).
If any of our readers, that even care about people getting ripped-off, are going to this auction, please spread the word about the above.
It sure is strange that there are not as many of the 'Bogus - Fantasy' Trade Stimulators, from the Las Vegas Butcher in this auction, as
there has been in all the previous auctions. I know he has several to butcher, as I have seen some of what he has bought. Guess he is
saving them to rip-off people at the Chicago show.