REAL OR REPOP DIAMOND FRONT ?

[mechanic]

Diamond fronts had many variations of which many are not properly accredited. When Mills went into war production they could no longer make bell mechs, so they subbed out the production to a smaller manufacturer. This company was Baker Novelty in Chicago. Baker made machines using Mills dies and molds. One of the big differences was that Baker made their castings out of cast iron instead of aluminum. They also painted the castings and added clear sparkles over the paint to make them glitter After the war Mills resumed slot production and redid many of the Baker machines, by simply replacing the Baker Novelty sticker with the Mills decal. Many machines that come up now that are heavy cast iron top and front castings most likely are Baker Novelty machines. I know of only 5 Baker Diamond fronts with the original Baker stickers and all were cast iron castings. So what happened to the rest? Reconverted !!

[JHSS-1944]

I was just pointing out things I saw in the photos I posted.

I'm not disputing recasts.... but, these sold very well at the time, plus tons still around ,why make recasts at any time ? (just me speaking out load).
Are you sure some of these weren't low quality castings of 1943 /1944 ? remember Uncle Sam's attitude at the time , "You make items for the war effort , or you make nothing at all, I control All materials".
Plus you best employees were make stuff for uncle Sam on the factory floor , not in the back illegally making slot machines. kinda funny as the civilian side of the military actually wanted slot machines to put in far flung areas of the world to help keep soldier's minds off the war (like army air force crew members).

I own a brown front / bursting cherry with low quality castings BUT, I know it's back round. late war made, used in a casino in Nevada. later getting tossed out... an employee took it home still on the mills safe stand. he had none of the keys , drilled out the back door lock (back door lost to time). he passed away a few years ago ,& his son took it. then he sold it to a flipper I know. he added a few dollars to it & I bought it.
Unfortunately ,this guy decided to destroy the safe stand lock before selling it to me.
now ,if any one say the castings ,they would swear it was done in a basement = real rough. but the Ser. number ,ect. fit with ones made of late 43 / 44. I did have to do some restoration to it, still very dirty inside.

jeff H.

[JHSS-1944]

American Amusement Co., also Chicago ,Ill. I believe also did rebuilds of these diamond fronts, Gold painted I believe. I think 1946 / 47ish. of course to resell.
never heard of Baker Novelty till now..... I don't think. nice to know.
maybe Some of the "recasts" were by them ,lesser quality standards ?
do recasts exist, yes, no doubt.
now ,I've only see a few of these "in hand", but I recall they all were in cast iron. I know mine is. Which means I thought they all were. being Aluminum was on the war effort needed list (planes ,ect.) very early , actually pre U.S. involvement. plus I assumed chrome took better to cast iron than Aluminum.
Shows you how little I know. so with your information , mine was Baker made.
interesting ,& nice to know.
jeff H.

[oldslotman]

If it was made late war it maybe a Baker casting. No serial numbers on the castings, only on the cabinet. Mech were still Mills. It's possible that Mills may have had one or two bad molds they used for castings also.
Don't take everything I says as gospel, I'm just stating my experiences I had with a few Diamond fronts. JMHO

[oldslotman]

That's it, American Amusement Co. That's the one I couldn't remember. I think they are the ones that done most of the sparkling gold paint, but I don't know if they any of the castings. Must have been Baker that done the castings.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

OK Jeff:
With all this current 'Hub-Bub' going on with the "Diamond Front" variations, it appears to me, that you are to
take on the task of being the Mills HalfTop expert. You have the dates and variations down to the correct time
zones. I have seen so many different color variations of this machine, to blow ones mind. The aftermarket
versions, produced a lot of ugly colors. I am not a big fan of this model, but my best choice of casting colors,
are either silver or gold, with chrome diamonds. They put red diamonds on most all configurations, and they
do not impress me, pinned on any color. Well, maybe silver! To top it off, the glitter-paint castings, are 'Butt-Ugly'!
Bill

[JHSS-1944]

First , I'm Not an expert of any kind..... " jack of all trades & the master of nothing".

We do know current & past dealerS who do sell recast upper & lowers,for replacement oF broken ones.
And the possibility of recasts for "fake machines" is very possible, look at all the other Mills Models that had been reproduced.
Correct, the glitter painted are not exactly super stunning but, if Mills originals , would have been nice to see more saved that way. who knows , maybe casinos bought them just to have them & soon as they got them, repainted them at once.
Yes ,way to many color combinations out there these days And many UGLY ! These & any basic high top can be what ever you want & no one really cares.
On mine the upper ,lower & bonnet are cast iron. was all messed up, sitting in a second hand store for $300.00.
jeff H.

[JHSS-1944]

And sorry Steve (fast in muskoka) for high jacking your thread.

[fast_in_muskoka]

And sorry Steve (fast in muskoka) for high jacking your thread.

No apology required. I have found all the responses very interesting.

That's why I like to visit this forum, you guys know your slots !

[fast_in_muskoka]

O.K. , Here we go....... from my information;
Mills Chrome Bell (Diamond front), 1939 - 1944.
Originally came out in 1939 ,Chromed castings, diamonds chromed also ,then red painted, with cabinet wood sides painted Silver.
Few sold with Side vendors.
1941 Introduced Gold Glitter = "Gold Chrome".
a bit later also 1941, Introduction Emerald Chrome with option of a hand load Jack pot.
December 1941 , Introduction of the Copper Chrome.
The U.S. into W.W.2 , So 1942- 1944 a small number of these machines built on the sly ; since "Critical war materials". Chrome was already on that list shortly after Mills introduced this line, Hence the painted versions.
jeff H.

The chrome Diamond front in you pic has a single cherry payout - otherwise looks like the one for sale in the OP.
Were Diamond Fronts manufactured by Mills or one of the other novelty Co with a single cherry payout ?
Steve