by Midcoast Vintage » Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:35 pm
SADLY, i think part of the reason is that "Mr BASEMENT MACHINE" does not care about antique, or, historic value.
all he wants is a flashy glow in the dark machine to impress his friends.
99% of these guys will never become a collector.
they would be just as happy with a modern glass front progressive jackpot casino machine.
these are the same people who would just as soon have a boyd coddington fiberglass poser mobile as opposed to a real 1932 ford roadster hot rod...and again, just like the flashy repro / fantasy machines, ... once done, those fake hot rods cost more than you can by an original one for.
this is not a recent thing. here is a true story from around 1979 or 1980.
i was driving back from the loose change fun fair. i stopped in nebraska to fill up with gas.
the gas station attendant (they still pumped it for you in those days!) asked what i was hauling.
i replied "antique slot machines... do you know anyone who has any old ones?"
he replied "the guy that owns the welding shop has some".
so... i paid the gas jockey, and headed down the road to the welding shop.
i spoke with the owner, and he took me to his house to see his machines.
he took me into the bedroom, and on top of the dresser were 2 dish packs. he lifted the box off the one on the left, and said this one i would sell. it was a very tidy, near mint war eagle.
i asked how much. he said $400.
i said ok, and, paid him.
i asked what the other machine was.
he warned me that it was a good one, and not for sale at any price.
he lifted the box off and there is was... a 1960's glass front casino machine... his pride and joy, and again... in his mind the best of the two machines.
i complimented him on what a nice machine it was, and said "i don't blame you for not wanting to sell that one!"
i loaded up the war eagle, and took off.
i related the story to my wife (i still had one of those things back then), and she laughed for 20 miles!
the point of the story is.... many people want a "LITTLE LAS VEGAS" IN THE GAME ROOM, BASEMENT, OR, IN THIS GUYS CASE... HIS BEDROOM.
They don't get it, don't want to get it, don't care, and, never will.
i don't care for newer machines, and most on this forum don't either.
i have done plenty of griping, and tried to educate the public, but am beginning to wonder if i, and others are barking up a tree that simply has no one up there?
some of the folks we try to help or educate get very rude, tell us to mind our own business, tell us we don't know what we are talking about, and, occasionally, inform us of what kind of sex act we can perform all by ourselves.
so.... here is the question..."DO WE CONTINUE TO WARN THE FRAUDSTERS, THE BUFFOONS, THE UNEDUCATED, THE NEWBIES, ETC, AND, CONTINUE TO POINT OUT THE FRAUD BEING PERPETRATED ON EBAY AND THEIR REFUSAL TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, OR DO WE JUST GO ON OUR WAY AND WORRY ABOUT OURSELVES?
Last edited by
Midcoast Vintage on Thu Jul 17, 2014 3:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.