"ORIGINAL" War Eagle...??

[iceman]

Item number 160974581587 on Ebay seems to be a blatant misrepresentation. With an asking price of $4000!! The coins in the escalator window seem to be in some sort of holder, doesn't look like there's even an escalator in the machine. Close-up photo of the brand new Mills sticker on the cabinet is laughable. That is supposed to convince me of the machine's authenticity? Also, the description is lacking the required disclaimer about the sale of slot machines in certain states. I reported this listing to Ebay, don't know if it will do any good.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

This is one of the Total Reproductions from the 1980 to 1990 period. Most likely by Royal Bell, as they painted them Gold,
and called them the "Golden Eagle". Only difference here, is they usually had all features on theirs, and this one does not
have an operating coin escalator, and most likely a non-operating jackpot as well. Also wrong handle and reel strips, as in
most all reproductions. Oh, and that shiney-new closeup of the decal, really makes it original. Give me a break!
I have sent the seller a note about their PHONEY Listing, and notified eBay as well. The notifying of these fraudulent
listings used to be common practice with many collectors, but most of us do not bother any longer. There is waaay too
much of this JUNK out there to police. A few years ago, eBay shut down most all of the "War Eagle" listings, as they were
being contacted on a regular basis about getting screwed. The "War Eagle" is one of many Reproductions that have been
ruining our hobby for many years. It all started with the Mills "Lion Head" back in the 1970's. It's all for GREED!
Welcome to our hobby Iceman, and read all you can, about the many Slot Machine and Trade Stimulator reproductions,
and Bogus Fantasy creations, as we do not want to see our new collectors getting Hosed by the Greedy-Nut-Cases.

[iceman]

Thanks for the info Slot Dynasty. I have seen several of these "fake" War Eagles in my wanderings around Ebay and the internet and they all looked the same - gold color, wrong handle and reel strips, and no escalator. I started to wonder if all the sellers were using the same photo. Now I understand there seems to have been quite a few of these made. The question I have is how do these machines work? With no escalator, where do the coins go? How is the coin tube filled? And the payout slides? Furthermore, the audacity of the sellers and their outrageous asking prices is unbelievable! You are right when you say it's all about greed.

[nvmos2]

I also contacted the seller when this listing first came out; have not yet heard back from him.

This guy (gal?) has not sold much on ebay and, from his feedback, does not seem to have any coinop transactions on ebay;
he may have bought the machine and got screwed and is just now finding out about it, or maybe it really has been in his family for a long time (as his auction states) and he is just going by what his parents (or some other relative ) told him.

He does point out in capital letters that it is not remanufactured, so he at least knows enough to realize that is a bad thing.

We'll see what he responds with, if anything; if anyone else hears from him, please post.

[Dave]

I hope Hitler doesn't buy it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WurVmwASYUc

[Dave]

.....

We'll see what he responds with, if anything; if anyone else hears from him, please post.

I sent him a question asking if he could provide a certificate of authenticity.

No response yet.

[Dave]

I see the location of the machine is CO which is where R B was/is located and sold a lot of their crap.

[marsonion]

The item location I'm seeing is Olympia, Washington... is there yet another fake Weagle being hawked out of Colorado, then--?

I see the location of the machine is CO which is where R B was/is located and sold a lot of their crap.

[Dave]

Hmm, maybe I was mistaken.

I thought for sure it said CO but now I see it says Olympia WA.

I see the price has changed. The Buy It Now is now $3,000 (was $4,000) and the starting bid is a low $2,200 ($3,000)

He has also changed the description to

This is a great working 25 cent slot machine. It has been in the family for many years and played a lot without any problems. Gold in color with red and black accents.

His old description was

This is a great working 25 cent slot machine that is original, NOT REMANUFACTURED. It has been in the family for many years and played a lot without any problems. Gold in color with red and black accents.

No more stating that IT IS NOT A REMANUFACTURED MACHINE but still not owning up to that it is a total fake So, he apparently now knows for sure that he has a POS fake and is not admitting it and will assume ignorance if someone buys it and then contacts him after the fact.

Here is the photo

[TheFatman]

One of the first things I look for on this era of machine is the jackpot adjustment door on the front casting. In quite a few repos I have seen, this access door is cast into the front casting and can not be opened because it is solid and not even a door anymore. On original machines there is a door that can be removed by taking off a screw inside the machine that allows to allow the door to open so you can adjust and work on the jackpot mech.