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Monti
Great pic !
Though I suspect those 2 Golden Nugget slot machines on the donkey fit the criteria of fakes !

The 2 Golden Nugget pictured are undoubtedly fakes; Bill Harris and Royal Bell produced a large number of "remanufactured" (REPRODUCTION) Mills machines.

Just an Added Note on the previous posting of the picture of the Gold Minor and the Pack Mule, I was pointing out the Wood Carvings of the Gold Miner and the Pack Mule and not the slot machines on the mule!
Undoubtedly the Golden Nugget slot machines being carried by the mule are in fact reproductions that were done by Bill Harris who did many reproduction slot machines for selling at his company Royal Bell, LTD. out of Colorado!
Probably as these slot machines were available to him he used them for this promotional photo, however the carvings were well done and even though not Frank Polk originals are still in the hands of collectors today, especially these two!
I was just following thru on the theme of this thread having to do with figure carvings and not implying that the slot machines were original Golden Nugget slots!

MONTI

Hi Monti,
Although the carvings of Delong were good, they are not the authorized reproductions of the Frank Polk characters. apart from the remaining original Polk figures, James Schafer did make 50 copies of an original Polk cowboy under license from Frank Polk, this deal was made between James Schafer and Ron Brooks of Virginia City, who was close to Frank Polk during the early 1980's. I bought my first Polk Miner with a Pace mechanism from Ron Brooks in 1980.

Frank Polk never carved a Mule with four Mills High Top models, in fact the only carving of the Mule with four Mills machines was only carved as a miniture by Frank Polk to be used as samples by Harry Skelly of Character Manufacturing in Reno, who started the idea of life size slot machines, it was Harry who got Frank Polk to carve these great works of Art in the first place. John Herman in L.A has the range of minitures in his collection including the Mule with the four Mills slots on it.

Bill Harry did more damage to the collecting of antique slot machines than anybody else, he made his money by creating reproductions of several slot machines.

Stay well Monti, you are located in an area where most coin machine legends were created both past and present.

Freddy Bailey

Hello Freddy!
Been a while since we communicated, I hope all is well with you!
Once Again thanks for your input which is always welcome as you, My Friend, are a Great Historian and always come up with fantastic information and literature as you have posted here!
Was just talking to Pete H. in Vegas about you a couple days ago!
Yes, unfortunately Bill Harris of Royal Bell, Ltd. did harm the market by flooding it with many reproduction slot machines in the 80's and unfortunately these slot machines turn up today being sold as originals by unknowing or unscrupulous sellers!
Yes, the area around Northern Nevada is full of history on the Carved Figures, Antique Slot Machines, Etc. and I was lucky enough to work in the casinos in the 60's and early 70's but I always appreciate your input!
You stay well my friend, I still miss my many conversations with our mutual friend Bill Whelan!
Bona Fortuna Mi Amico!
MONTI

Is this one of Dicks? Rick B

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Al-Capone-Wood ... Sw4Epa8gne

Yes, it is!
Carving design and style is exactly like the one Dick carved for me in 2006 with the exception that I told him I wanted it to resemble me for my Display Room and I was left handed and asked if he could put a 45 Colt in the left hand or handle which he did and then followed with more in that style!
I also mentioned to him that Collectors Armory at that time had very realistic looking prop Tommy Guns that I currently had one of and had him place the right hand at the proper height and grip for holding it!
Also mentioned the Black & White shoes of the 20's that he duplicated for mine!
Dick had already been producing Gangsters but in a slightly different style and positioning but after mine he followed thru with the style in this listing!
There is also a copy of GAMEROOM magazine in the photo shown here that had an article interviewing Dick with his history in slot machines and changing the slot machine law in his state!
The last time I spoke to him he was amazed that his carving were going for so much at auctions, Etc. and now since his recent passing they will probably be going higher, who knows!
RIP Dick!
I wonder if his son Todd, who used to work with him will continue the work?
MONTI

A Bill Harris original is coming up also. A guy with a few extra bucks could have a nice collection of these with all that are coming up for sale. Rick B

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-Original- ... 0005.m1851

Another one. Are these initials from Dick Rick B


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Antiq ... itleDesc=0

On most of the Dick DeLong carvings I have seen he always signed them in long hand and I believe dated them as well!
Maybe someone else can confirm this statement or correct it as may be!
This one is clearly marked as coming from Aancient Slots out of Las Vegas and they have been out of business for many years now I think in the late 90's or shortly thereafter. I believe Mike A. out of Vegas used to work for them as I think it came up in conversation one time when we spoke but again I could be wrong!
I would have to contact him and ask!
Who did the carving I do not know but it could be another Bill Harris from Royal Bell LTD.
Aancient slots had a Great Catalog, cover pictured here below, and when they went out of business Tom Krahl bought all their parts and had told me shortly before he died that he had boxes of all their old catalogs, brand new and asked me if I wanted a few and I didn't follow up quick enough and unfortunately he passed before I could pick up a few to pass out to customers as they were great for parts identification with blow up pictures, Etc!
Steve Squires must have them all now since he bought all of Tom's parts after his death!
I have a few as I used to buy parts from them back in the day!
Ciao!
MONTI