Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

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Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby 719norman » Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:38 pm

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to get anyone's input on a machine that I am thinking about buying. I have a couple of attachments listed. I have spent a lot of time reading Dave's forums on reproductions and wanted to know if this Mills is Real or not. This will be my first purchase of an Antique slot machine and hope to be a avid collector of these beautiful machines. Also what is a fair price for the machine and any other info that might help...thanks to everyone for your input.
Attachments
3I43p23H95Le5Ia5F5d1jdd7fa2f91a8811fd.jpg
3Ma3F93Lb5N85E85Kad1j578f36bc1c5f1477.jpg
3F23Ja3H45L65I55H9d1jff5b6f7e596b1d68.jpg
3F23Ja3H45L65I55H9d1jff5b6f7e596b1d68.jpg
3F23Ja3H45L65I55H9d1jff5b6f7e596b1d68.jpg (1.1 KiB) Viewed 9339 times
3E23G43Ja5Ib5E75F8d1jdb22fa283c541395.jpg
3F23Ja3H45L65I55H9d1jff5b6f7e596b1d68.jpg
3F23Ja3H45L65I55H9d1jff5b6f7e596b1d68.jpg (1.1 KiB) Viewed 9339 times
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Re: Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby Dave » Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:47 pm

The machine is not painted the correct colors. The wood appears to be refinished which is OK for a restored machine.

Other than that it looks OK to me.

Go to http://www.AntiqueSlotMachinePriceGuide.com to research prices.

Dave
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Re: Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby altort » Sun Mar 10, 2013 8:27 pm

Nice first slot! besides the castings not painted properly the only other thing I can see is no brake wires. As far how much it's worth , ck to make sure it pays and plays properly, the mint vendor works properly, the F.O.K.'s had linkage that went from the right mint vendor up to the escalator that would reject the coin if the vendor was out of mints, check the castings for any repairs or damage, some times they paint over areas that should not be painted to hide repairs or damage, look over the mech to see if it looks like any parts have been removed and left out.
Good luck
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Re: Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby watlingboy » Sun Mar 10, 2013 9:14 pm

This machine has never been reproduced. It is way too much trouble because of the vender. The hucksters want easy machines to do. I've never heard of it referred to as a Modern front, I believe Mills called it a Silent FOk, also heard it called a Mills Peacock Front. This was part of the Mills Silent line made in the mid and late 30's, i.e. War Eagle, Roman Head, Castle Front. The Silent FOK was one of if not the most expensive machine in the series. The back door is 1/2" taller on this machine and is unique to this machine and I think the Extrodinaire vender front. Looks to be a nice machine and the mech appears to retain it's original cad plating. When it left the factory, it did have a lock out for the coin if the vender was empty, most all slots with venders had this because if the vender was empty, it was an illegal machine if run in a city or county where only slots which would vend candy or gum were legal. This machien has a simple adjustment to overide this. I wouldn't base whether I bought this machine or not on whether that lock out was still present as they were often removed completely.

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Re: Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby altort » Sun Mar 10, 2013 10:16 pm

I took some pictures of my machine that I am restoring trying to point to the parts that Watlingboy is talking about


Image


Image


Image


Image
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Re: Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby Dave » Sun Mar 10, 2013 10:24 pm

This is off topic, but I see you have a 2 pulls for $.05 skyscraper machine in the background.

Cool machine. :D One that you don't see very often.
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Re: Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby altort » Sun Mar 10, 2013 11:16 pm

Thanks, I have two of them both complete but needing restoration, hope to start on one of them as soon as I finish with some of the ones I have already started.
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Re: Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby Dave » Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:38 am

Here is mine with an original (and correct) vendor for the machine :D

IMG_0273.jpg


I have never understood why these don't bring more money.
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Re: Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby andydotp » Tue Mar 12, 2013 2:17 am

Delightful Skyscraper there Dave,
Back-tracking to the FOK though, two posts have said the castings are the wrong colour.
What's the correct (if such a difinitive scheme exists on any machine?).
Comparing with the photo in Slot Machines On Parade, it's bang-on plus with the item in question even the relief patternation in the casting shows the aluminium.
Just wondrin' , always open to learning new things.
Thanks,
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Re: Mills Modern Front FOK; Real or Reproduction

Postby 3reel » Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:27 am

The FOK seems to be pretty correct with the colors and placement of colors to me. I once had an original FOK and it sure looks the same. Dave, I thought the Skyscrapers were color coded from Mills factory, BLUE fronts were nickel play ,RED fronts were dime play. At least that's what I've seen over the last 36 years of seeing and owning original Skyscrapers. I guess it really doesn't matter sometimes what the color is now, as long as the owner likes it and it's been painted with care.---Pete. (P.S., that blue Mills skyscraper "2 for 1" in Al's background was mine up until yesterday.)
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