Rolatop on Ebay 140352908190

[multiham]

Brand new to collecting slot machines. Coming over from Pinball where after a couple of years I could tell the scammers from the real deals. Feel like a rookie again when it comes to slot machines. Have 1 (Mills Roman Head) in my collection. Looking to add a second machine to the game room. Saw the Waitling Rolatop Checker Board on EBAY. It is 140352908190. Any opinions on original vs repro? Does it pass the "sniff" test with the seasoned vets here? Appreciate any thoughts. I am sure I will have plenty of other questions.

Thanks!

Steve

[watlingboy]

Curious why you are interested in the Checkerboard? Yes, it appears to be all original and the Checkerboard usually sells for less than the coin front top and bottom. The Checkerboard has foreign coins in the top casting and was made after WWII. It has single cherry pay and a plywood cabinet. Pre war machines have solid oak cabinets and the earlier machines have American coins on them. Most Rol-A-tops are not reproductons while some may have a recast casting here or there. The complete repro machines have non working escalators and the coins are glued to the escalator glass and don't move. Becsause you would have to pretty much reproduce the entire mech which would be too costly, accurate reproductions have not been made, which is good. If you like the Checkerboard, I think you can feel safe it is original.

Watlingboy

[multiham]

Thanks for the information! Not my first choice but trying to learn how to spot legitimate machines on ebay. Looking to add a second machine to my collection. Probably stepping up way too much in cost and collectability but I absolutely love the look of the Rolatops from the mid 30's. Trying to learn as much as possible, so that if one becomes available, I will be a little educated. Any tips are appreciated!

[Dave]

The machine looks nice to me. To my knowledge, no one has reproduced the Checker Board model.

Like WatlingBoy stated, no one has reproduced the Watling escalator so the fakes are pretty easy to spot.

Rol-A-Tops are fairly plentiful and in my opinion are a good choice for not only beginner collectors but also for people who have been collecting a long time. Like you, I really like the looks of the Rol-A-Top. The Treasury is also a very attractive machine but you really have to be careful when buying a Treasury.

The price range for them is all over the map. The Checkerboards are typically the most economical of all the Rol-A-Tops.