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An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Fri Nov 14, 2025 9:11 amby LotusGuy
I have a chance to buy this War Eagle but I'm concerned about how nice it looks. Here are a few pictures of the machine. They mostly look correct to my untrained eye, but little wear and no nails in the cabinet base, etc worry me. I have read how to spot a repo and have just ask the seller if it has a serial number stamped on the front. Is there anything else I should ask? He claims the machine is genuine because it has what looks like a brand new Mills label on the side, LOL.
Any info you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Re: An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Fri Nov 14, 2025 9:29 amby rtmccurdy
Interesting machine. On a cursory look, it looks like a reproduction cabinet and castings (to verify look for a stamped serial number on the top casting), a possible original style handle, restored 10-stop mechanism, and replaced reel strips. Very few repro War Eagles have a restored 10 or 20-stop mechanism as most have one with close to 100% repro parts. It would be nice to see the escalator as they are generally missing one of the horizontal levers. War Eagles (and Castle Fronts) often had horizontal script fortunes on the reel strips that are not freely available as reproductions, but the strips are nice repros nonetheless.
Re: An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Fri Nov 14, 2025 9:51 amby radiorich123
It was made in the 1980s Not original.
Re: An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Fri Nov 14, 2025 10:19 amby LotusGuy
At the top of this photo it appears you can just see the bottom of the escalator, I think. If it is, it looks like a single bar and therefore a reproduction as radiorich123 stated, correct?
Re: An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Sat Nov 15, 2025 5:35 amby memphisbigdave
It’s a repop. But a nice machine, done well. What’s the price?
Re: An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Sat Nov 15, 2025 10:54 amby LotusGuy
memphisbigdave wrote:It’s a repop. But a nice machine, done well. What’s the price?
He's asking $1500 with a stand
Re: An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Sat Nov 15, 2025 12:48 pmby mazzeosa17
Considering that a 25 cent reproduction War Eagle sold at the Morphy May 1-3, 2025 auction for $720 (including 20-23% buyer's premium) - Lot 2276, that price sounds very high.
Re: An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Sat Nov 15, 2025 1:29 pmby radiorich123
That machine is worth 600 dollars with out the stand
Re: An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Sat Nov 15, 2025 1:38 pmby wallruss001
It does look like a repop, the award card would be correct for an original, but does it payout on one cherry? if yes, repop. They generally work well and are fun, but not over $5-600 today.
Re: An I looking at a nicely restored machine or a repo?
Posted:
Sat Nov 15, 2025 3:35 pmby LotusGuy
wallruss001 wrote:It does look like a repop, the award card would be correct for an original, but does it payout on one cherry? if yes, repop. They generally work well and are fun, but not over $5-600 today.
It is a nice stand that he is selling with the machine. But from what I'm reading he's about $300 over priced, right? I'm really new at these things, I bought a Jennings Duchess a few months ago and we really like the thing.