FAKE WAR EAGLE ON EBAY

[Midcoast Vintage]

HERE WE GO AGAIN.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Mills-W ... 338515f77a

[Midcoast Vintage]

here is the email i sent to seller:
Dear mwitte100,

HI,
this machine is NOT an antique.
it is is a reproduction.
it is not restored.
it is a reproduction.
please correct the wording in your ad to read correctly, and honestly.
thank you.

- midcoastvintage
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here is seller's reply:
Dear midcoastvintage,

Hello,
This was not meant to be an afront or dishonest to anyone. This item was purchased by my husband from an antique collector who restored this machine to benefit our local dollars for scholars. I am in no way an expert. Last year, In order to satisfy my curiousity I took it to a shop in Coeur D Alene ID who's owner is a collector of most all gaming machines. He told me that it was an excellent restoration and yes is an original. He said the wheels might be adapted from a little new version but said it was a seamless adaptation. We paid right at 1000.00 for this machine of which those proceeds were donated by the person who had done the restoration, to Dollars For Scholars. We have enjoyed this machine greatly. It works well and looks fun and shiny as well as stirs intrigue from all ages. If I did not need to sell it I would not. My husband has a form of cancer called Multiple Myeloma and is in need of a stemcell transplant. We are selling all of our collectibles and items of value to cover the cost of this procedure and the logistics that accompany our situation. Please forgive my ignorance to this gaming arena and I always thought that an antique was something that was old and collectible due to age. This is definitely old and beautiful. Thank you for your note. I took the time to really look the machine over and do some research on it.
Sincerely,

Melissa

- mwitte100

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here is the reply i sent to sellers reply:
hi,
thank you for getting back to me.
first, let me say i am sorry about your husband's cancer... i too have cancer. i had surgery last week, and begin both chemo and radiation in a few weeks, for a total 7 weeks treatment, which hopefully, will cure me.
anyway,
i have been in the slot machine business for about 40 years.
i collect, repair, and restore.
i also am a historian, and, a writer on the subject of coin-op machines.
now, to your machine.
it is not restored, as it is new (made within the last 10 to 15 years).
the telltale signs are:
the extended, later style handle. ALL original war eagles had a flat style handle, not the sword handle like your's has.
the square denomination badge. ALL original war eagles have a round denomination badge (except the very early 1931 machines, which did not have a denomination badge, but has a cast in design that did not indicate a denomination.
the silver reel strips. original war eagles ALL had buff colored strips. silver strips came much later.
original war eagles... and other mills machines of the 1930's did not pay on 1 cherry. they paid 2 on 2 cherries, and 4 on 2 cherries with a bell or lemon.
the single cherry payout came much later, indicating that you mechanism is definitely from a later machine, if it is an original mechanism, but most likely, it is all new as well, just as your cabinet and castings are.
also, the black reward card frame. originals were nickel plated.
although you only have the one picture shown, which does not show the entire front,
i will bet:
there are not 2 rods going through the base.
there is not a vendor linkage hole cover on the handle side.
you cash box is new and shiny metal.
mechanism and back bonnet hold down levers are chrome.
back door is flat metal as opposed to heavy stamped iron.
all of these are typical to a reproduction machine.
again, i urge you to reword your ad to truthfully state that machine is a reproduction.
thank you.

[oldslotman]

Here's another one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-1930s-M ... 497wt_1046

[Midcoast Vintage]

just saw this one also.
did you notice the blurb at the top of their ad?
it says "world's number one source.... according to ebay statistics".
i would like to know where to find those statistics....

[SLOT DYNASTY]

This (wwolst12) guy knows exactly what he is offering. He has been selling coin-op for several years, and always has very vague descriptions.
I have written him in the past, and asked him to change his wording, so as not to defraud any bidders, and he has ignored my efforts. This is
another total, or almost total reproduction. (new case, with no rods, or vender linkage hole, new flat door, new cashbox, late handle, silver
reel strips, no reel brakes, square denominator badge, late mechanism, w/single cherry pay, no pix with mech out, which could indicate an
incorrect escalator, and non-operating jackpot). Also doesn't show a serial number where it is supposed to be, but has a number stamped in
the top of the rear base, outside the door, where Mills never stamped them.
Has anyone dropped a note to him? I get sick of notifying these people who don't G.A.S. about snookering their buyers.

[altort]

This guy is not that far from me in Boston Ma., maybe I should place a real high bid to make sure I win, drive down to pay cash and pick up, and once there I'll tell him that the slot is a fake, not pay him and report him to ebay about fraudulent listing.

[Midcoast Vintage]

it would wake him up, and, you would not be out any cash.
plus, the negative would alert others.
what amazes me, is, on all these repro slots being sold, i have yet to see any of the sellers get a negative from the buyer once the fin out they have been shafted.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

This guy is not that far from me in Boston Ma., maybe I should place a real high bid to make sure I win, drive down to pay cash and pick up, and once there I'll tell him that the slot is a fake, not pay him and report him to ebay about fraudulent listing.

Sounds like a plan. Let us know the outcome. I would do it, but am too far away.

[nvmos2]

REF: The latest fake War Eagle in this thread.

I had emailed this seller shortly after it was listed;
just received the following reply;

"The listing has been ended."

No further information was provided.