I have a Mills HI-TOP 10 cent 5 and 2 cherry inspected in 1946 (serial # scratched). It works pretty well; getting new springs for payout. I have two questions semi-related and will post separately.
There’s an overflow function I don’t understand. I have an overflow pushoff bar that shoves dimes into the jackpot fill area when the payout tube is completely full. However, there is a deflector that is above the tube that extends and retracts over the tube opening. There is a push rod on this deflector that sticks out the back through the upper finger bracket. You can push and pull this rod to extend and retract the deflector.
There is a level detector bar that is about ¾ up the payout tube that goes in a slit in the rear of the tube. If the dime fill level is low, the detector is in the tube; if high, it is pivoted out of the tube.
If the fill level is high and you push the deflector rod to extend the deflector over the tube, it catches on the fill level detector mechanism and locks in place. All the coins will deflect and go into the jackpot area. At this point, you cannot pull the deflector rod back; it’s locked. Once there is enough payout and the fill level drops and the level detector bar retracts, the deflector is released and it also retracts, allowing coins into the tube again.
I don’t think the deflector gets deployed except by hand pushing the rod in the rear. So, is this to force fill the jackpot? If you push it, fill the jackpot, then resume play, as soon as the payout tube level goes down the deflector is released and spring pulls it back.
Am I correct? If so, what are the official names of these parts? Thanks. This was a concern because the deflector was not retracting automatically and keeping the tube from filling. I managed to slightly loosen the pivot screw in the middle of writing this up and now it retracts automatically. But still curious of the function.
Regards,
Frank