tazmantic
Being a Newby in our hobby, I can't stress enough, that you read as much as you can, before purchasing more machines. There are threads in this Forum, some of which include videos, explaining most of what to look out for, regarding Reproduction Slot Machines. Many of the reproduction machines, started in the early 1980's. The Mills "Lion Head" started even sooner than that. The machine that has been Phonied the most since the 8o's, is the Mills "War Eagle". Three or four different sources have been doing them. One was reproing the entire machine, including the entire mechanism. Other examples do not even have a coin escalator. They glued coins in the window for looks. Many do not have an operating Jackpot. There were so many people getting screwed with the "War Eagle" sales on eBay a couple of years ago, that they shut down all auctions that listed them. Even the people that were selling an original one. Since then, most of it has quieted-down, and you will still see one
listed, that does not say what it really is. Some posted a flat-out lie, saying things like, "This was my grandfather's machine, and it has been in our family for over 40 years". If you are mechanically inclined, and like to work on machines yourself, the best ones to buy, are the dirty & grubby looking examples. Other machines to read our threads about, are the Trade Stimulators. There are many Bogus examples by one person inparticular, coming out of Las Vegas, that takes perfectly-good-original machines, and Bastardizes them into something that they Never Were. Even down to Phoney Made-Up reel strips & award cards, and using recast parts from other mfrs. machines, like Jackpots. They can be seen on eBay, as well as every VCA auction, and every Chicago-Land Show. Way too many of our unsuspecting new collectors have been Snookered with this Crap. Some that have found out later, as to what they had bought, tried to get the seller to take it back, and refused, only to be Lied To. There is one recent exception to this. One person did get him to take a Phoney machine back, from an eBay sale, and issue a refund. More of this needs to happen. If there are any of our readers here, that feel they might have bought one of these Bogus examples in the past, send photo's of it to me, at (
slotdynasty@sbcglobal.net), and I will get back to you with an honest answer. For many years, our coin-op hobby has been made up of good, and honest people to buy & trade with. But as in any hobby, there are some that focus more on GREED, than anything else.
Welcome to our coin-op hobby, tazmantic, and don't get swayed by those chosen-few.
Bill