VCA lot 621

[Frank]

is actually Mills, not Watling

[SLOT DYNASTY]

There were several mfrs. that copied these early cast iron "Draw Poker" machines.
Fey, Mills, Foley, Caille, Watling, Cowper, and others, which all had the same case
style, with variations in the design patterns. The Mills version had a flower pattern
on the lower front, sides, and rear, and usually had 'Mills Novelty Co.' stamped into
the front of the lower base. Sometimes there was a stamped plate, attached with
two rivets, that was over another name, or even a blank area. It was Foley that
retooled the Mills machine for other mfrs., and changed the design patterns. All
this was taking place in 1906. Usually, the Foley machines had an 'F' stamped on
some of the inner castings, and the only way to tell who he did a certain machine
for, would be whatever name was on the award & instruction cards. Most of the
models that I have seen, still have the original cards intact. It's when restorers
replace a card with whatever is available, that is going to make the machine a
mystery. That's why I have always said, "leave the machine as is, until you do your
research, so that you can restore it properly", if it should be restored at all.

Therefore, the machine in the Victorian auction, lot #621, should in all viewing,
be a Watling, because of what looks to be, the original paper. It could still be
one of the others, but is definitely Not Mills.