Fifty Cent Rol-A-Top question

[flipper77]

Nice looking fifty cent Rol-A-Top on eBay number 331146508302. But seems odd that it has an American coin top casting with serial 94xxx so very late run. Serial is on wood at handle and inside which is correct for this model. But top casting could have been switched out. Any comments from Watlingboy or any of the Watling experts? Asking price too high but still an interesting machine.

Thanks,
Flip

[watlingboy]

Flip,

The story that has circulated for years as to why Watling came out with the foreign coin top and bottom casting was because they were reproducing currency which was against the law and the government made them change the castings. The 50 cent machine is one which makes you wonder if that story is correct or urban myth. If the story is correct then how could they still sell one machine in their line with American coins. We will never know the true answer to this one. The American coin top is the only one ever used on a 50 cent machine. They never made a foreign top for the 50 cent. There are even a few 50 cent Rol-A-Tors that have survived, same top, just with an R instead of a P. The machine on Ebay is correct.

Watlingboy

[Midcoast Vintage]

if you look close, you will see that the letter "A" in the word rol-a-top is solid...as in no triangle cut out above the cross bar in the letter.
is that space full of paint, or aluminum... as in a bad casting?
anyone ever seen this before?

[watlingboy]

I have not seen many casting like this but I have on occasion seen where a letter is partially filled. I'm not sure this has an effect on the value of the machine. Some of the really late 40's Rol-A-Tops will have small pin holes in the top casting, this is of more concern than a partially filled letter. As for prices of 50 cent Rol-A-Tops, the last few that have sold have been in the $7500 to $9500 range. I always like half dollar machines because they are almost like a new machine because they received so little play. I am not involved with the sale of this machine and will not benefit financially from the sale of it.

Watlingboy