Just wondering how original my machine is

[WillCollins]

Hello I have a nice Watling Twin Jackpot Blue Seal Front Vendor. As far as I can tell, I believe it is 1931ish and it is in remarkable condition for its age. Everything works still and from what I can tell its all original but idk. Almost all the parts are stamped with WMC for Watling Machine Co so I believe those are all original. It doesn't have the chicken wire jackpot glass so I know that got replaced though. Also it has little fortunes or phrases on all of the icons on the wheels.Here are some pics let me know what you think. If anything looks not original please point it out or if I should take better more detailed pics I can.

[watlingboy]

Everything looks correct to me. Someone did a nice restoration on it.

Watlingboy

[WillCollins]

Thank you! Does anyone body know if the tin reels are still original?

[watlingboy]

Yes, your tin reel strips are original. No one ever reproduced them in tin.

Watlingboy

[WillCollins]

Thanks again. So the jackpot payout card on the left looks original because it says mints on it. But the payout card on the right (it's hard to read) but it says BALL GUM. Do you think this has been replaced during the restoration? Also what are some signs that gave it away to you that it has been restored? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about my machine.

[watlingboy]

I can't tell from that picture if the award cards have been replaced or not but judging from the nice condition of the machine, I would probably guess they are original. Why do I know it was restored, well, the paint on the castings is perfect and shiny, you would expect some paint loss and fading. The castings are bright and polished. After approximately 80 plus years the castings would be dull and have oxidation on them. The head is bright nickel and that would be dull gray and there is absolutely no wear around the coin entry. The inside wood bottom of the cabinet from the rear has over spray on it, originally that was natural wood with no over spray. The mint vender knob was nickel plated when new, yours is brass, the nickel has worn off. Common for people to polish the knob or leave it alone. Always scary to send this to a plater because the knob is pinned to a pot metal rod, easily broken and no way to repair it, so people leave it alone. And the black paint on the case is too shiny also. I bet if you look at the base, you can see small dents that have occured over the years but have been painted over. The aluminum and paint on machines that were found new in the box and never had a coin go through them don't look this good.

Hope this helps,

Watlingboy

[watlingboy]

Forgot to answer one of your questions. The award card on the right of the machine, always says "Ball Gum" whether the machine is a penny or a nickel. This is the only version I have ever seen and it is correct for your machine. It's no different from the jackpot bar on the reel strips saying "Mints" even if the machine did not have a mint vender.

Watlingboy