Looking for advice/feedback

[63mini]

Are all repro escalators like this? If so, then this sort of view through the escalator window would be an immediate and obvious indicator of a repro, so you wouldn't have to open the thing up and look for hex nuts and philips' screws or anything like that...

I think one caveat to this thought would be, what if someone used a Buckley escalator as a replacement? As they push across similar to the machine shown. However, I do not think the machine about is using a Buckley escalator.

[Critterpainter]

My first slot was a Mills golden eagle reproduction. I had a hunch it was a reproduction but I bought it anyway. The elevator had 6 coins in it that touched each other. It did play but not well. I took it apart (with NO clue how to fix it) and figured out that the mechanism was not right so I spaced the quarters out so they fit and moved smoothly. In looking the machine over I noticed that 1. it payed out on one cherry. 2. The mechanism was way too shiny for an 80 year old machine. 3 the 2 Domed nails on the front of the base were not there. 4. The rear panel was flat with no raised area. 5. the lock and key were modern, 6. There was no "pump" to slow the return of the handle. I have since seen other "reproduction" machines that do have a pump. This machine I have now owned for 4 years and it has played well. Actually it has stood up to the abuse of grandkids and guests. I have since acquired 4 real Mills Machines including a gooseneck.