Rockola sweepstakes on ebay
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:51 amLooks quite nice any opinions on this machine ?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Rockola-Of ... 27ead21f8c
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Rockola-Of ... 27ead21f8c
There are many repro's of this machine on the market. Most all of which are built in Southern California. Both Gum & Non-Gum models.
This particular one, is one of the Worst I have seen. Having the magnifier feature on the sight, helps to see the childish workmanship.
The grooves that are cut into the sides of the case, are sloppy, and not the right depth. Case too shiny, and sloppy paint in the grooves.
Check ALL of the recast castings, both inside & out. They are far from quality, and absolutely NO attempt was made to make them look
presentable. Sloppy paint on all of the castings. Some horses are painted incorrect colors. They never had gold, silver or orange horses.
Only three of the eight horses are painted the correct colors, and in the correct number positions. Also, a steel ball was never used for
the odds, around the turntable. Has repro background scene. Also, original instruction cards were never white. They only came in black,
with silver or white print, and red, with black print. The inner slanted glass, at the top front, is installed with rubberized sealant blobbed
on both ends. Most people have no idea how those glass pieces were originally installed. If that glass got broken, and is missing in an original
machine, some do not put a replacement in. It was installed for a purpose. To keep cheaters from feeding a shim, between the top & front
glass, to manipulate the turntable & odds ball. The finish post is incorrect, and has a style pointer, that was never in an original. The 4 posts
on the left are all different heights, and there is NO Tilt post, (even though it says so in the casting. The tilt post was omitted on all the repros,
because it was too time-consuming to make all the inner parts. The chain-guide post, and spring is also not on the mechanism. All of the inner
recast parts are rough & sloppy as well, and some of the flat metal parts not made exact. The piece of galvanized metal backing on the gum
view compartment, is far from original. That extra long spring, attached to the screw-eye to the rear, is also not original. There was also NO
serial numbers on any of the repro machines, and hopefully someone doesn't start placing any on them. The window in the back door is not
lined-up correctly with the inner coin rack. The coin actuating lever is either jammed to the left, or there is no return spring attached. The
worst thing of all, is that this one has been changed to nickel play. All originals are penny play, except for some that were produced for the
Foreign market. One of the worst things about this example, is why would someone polish it all up, and even make the case look like glass,
when the entire workmanship is so bad, that it stands out even more like a sore-thumb!
Hopefully none of our Forum members are anticipating adding this 'Piece of Crap' to their collection. The asking price is insane, and the most
anyone should offer, would be minimal, just for some parts, and even that is iffy.
I have had several original "Sweepstakes" over the years, and have restored many, for others as well. I have studied them thoroughly, and
know them inside & out. Any other questions, feel free to ask.
