Greetings, I just joined the forum as I just got in two Mills slot machines. One I bought and the other I need to do some painting for the fellow who bought them from an estate. Both machines were on the floor in a damp basement so the award cards, award card frames, and the base wood are in poor condition. The one I got is an Extaordinary 10¢ which is in better condition of the two.
The paint is poor but the internals are in nice shape and seem to run fine. It had a vendor on the side which is missing. My intentions are to restore the outside but thought I would ask opinions about leaving as is. In my opinion an Extraordinary needs all the help it can get to look attractive. It will be a show piece to sit on one of my restored bank safes. I am a stickler to honor the original design as close as possible. Here are a couple pictures of safes recently done. I am currently finishing up a 1906 National Manganese Money Chest.
A 1891 Mosler Screw Door Bank Safe, extremely rare double door model.
A 1915 Mosler Screw door Bank safe with a 1907 National cash register.
A 1908 Victor Cannonball.
The other Mills is a Lion head 5¢. It is in poor cosmetic condition. The yellow was repainted orange and the black was slopped up which looks like the handy work of the proverbial 3rd grader. It also has a broken edge on one side of the upper front cover. The bottom board is in poor condition. The internals are good. It too had a vendor on it at one time and now has a cover plate at the bottom. The owner wants new paint and the bottom board repaired as best as possible but of coarse doesn't want to spent to much. I feel it is a good candidate for new paint and a light brightening of the exposed metal.
I am capable of high quality work, nothing shoddy done here. Please note, the pictures of the slots were not taken in my shop! I keep mine vacuumed.
I will have some follow up questions.
So, let the opinions fly on both slots. Thanks.