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where's chris when yuh need 'im? he knows!

Hi Monti,

Doing some research on Jim Schafer and I found that he had brought the rights in the mid 80s to re-issue all of the original Polk Characters. Although he has the rights to all of the characters, he only re-issued one of the characters. Jim produced 50 of the one armed Cowboy know as Smokey. This eliminates the possibility that the C - S on my character is a copyright trademark for Jim Schafer. The search goes on, learning more everyday.

Thanks, Robert

Hi randyww,

I sent Chris some photos of my Gold Prospector Character Slot about 5 months ago. He told me that it was not done by Polk, but he wasn't sure who had done the carving. His response to me was in a private message.

Regards, Robert

maybe john h.? he had a lot of polks, and knows a lot.....there's an a.c.m.c.a. meeting at my house on the 19th this month, so i will ask around of the members that are here. if chris and jim don't know, it's a real head-scratcher. didn't bill and rosanna harris make some carved figures? oh, and maybe ask marshall fey? i wouldn't be surprised to find out larry g. made some too....i will ask him next week.

Yes, Bill and Rosanna Harris made many Characters under the name of Royal Bell Limited and they had three carvers, I believe it was only three carving them!
I also remember a Mannie Sanchez making them as well, also in Colorado like Royal Bell but I have no idea how he marked them to designate his carvings!
I had sold some of Dick Delongs characters back in the day and I know how he marked his, in the area below the slot machine cabinet at the top of the legs and he usually just carved his name with a number designating the character!
Talked to Jim Schaffer on the phone and he has no idea either but I did send him the photos you emailed me Bob but he inferred that if I couldn't figure it out he doubted he could but he did say that he thought there was only about 6-8 people doing carvings so that is where it is here on my end!
MONTI

dick delong was a carver too. i have a popeye and olive QT.

Yes, Dick was a Great Guy with a lot of vintage slot machine history in his state!
Yet, another "Old Timer" who has gone to that "BIG CASINO" in the sky!
I always enjoyed speaking with him!
MONTI

one person today suggested there were 2 partners, one named COONEY?, in alta dena/pasadena area that made/sold quite a few of this type slots. i THINK he mentioned in the early days of loose change, they did a story on them. one person did suggest this though......."who cares? if it aint a polk, it's only worth 3 to 5 thousand dollars". i suppose there's a grain of truth in that, but SOMEday, people will want to know who carved their machine.

"Dan Cooney had a partner that worked in the mold department of Disney. All the figures they made were out of fiberglass so it wasn't him."
got that from a very knowledgable source today. that's the end of my "help" here. nobody else knows nuttin'.

Yeh!
And this is the kind of "Cheesy" stuff that would have come out of that source!
Granted, general High Tops are not worth that much but this, in my opinion, is a waste of a good slot machine!
JUST SAYIN'
Bought a large collection of slots in Roseville a while back and "Dodged the Bullet" on this one!
MONTI