Watling Rol A Top - Am I being Sold a Dud?

[markymarkuk]

Hi Guys,

Just want your professional opinions on a machine I'm about to buy here in the UK, However, something rings alarm bells for me, maybe I'm being over-cautious, but I can't afford to lose my money! It's a Watling Rol-A-Top, I've put pictures on here for you to study. The top is broken, he says it broke, but maybe there was something on there that has been removed?
He says a small coin chute is missing on the escalator so coins by-pass the rotary part and go straight to the coin detector pin. The rotary dial rotates but its the same coins just going round and round?
The casting looks "not quite right".

Any opinions greatly appreciated before I part with my cash.

Thanks

[mechanic]

Hi From what I can see of the pics, it looks like an original 25c with issues. The money tray at bottom looks like it is missing part of the right side. It is an American coin front. Top where back bonnet goes into look like a big piece was cracked off, look on the inside to see how big. This was a skill stop machine at one point as seen in the pic the 5 holes on the left top casting. If your real lucky it may still have some of the linkage on the mech. As for the chute a friend of mine in France makes both types. Need more pics.

[markymarkuk]

thanks for info, trying to get more pics

[gsx11r]

Hi Mechanic
I think that Markymark talk about this modification for the "small coin chute" !(I know , it s not possible to make the same big sh.t on other Rol , but in spirit ! )!And I don t think that he talk about the "coin return funnel" !
if I m right , don t loose your time !!Except if you can have a very good price on it and if you have the parts for complete it ! More inside picture will be great !! From the jackpot also !!!!
About the upper casting , always the same problem on the Rol !! But it s a very bad plaster that I see here !!

So , take your time , give more pictures ,and wait !
Stephane

coin funnel

Coin tunnel 2.jpg (64.53 KiB) Viewed 5420 times

[goodguy]

I AM AN OLDE TIMER,RECOVERING FROM OPEN HEART SURGERY, GATHERED ENERGY FOR THIS REPLY
HOPIN TO SAVE YOU FUTURE GRIEF.
HAVING STARTED IN THE HOBBY AROUND 1974, AND WATCHED IN AMAZZEMENT
THE CURRENT SITUATON WITH ITS FAKES ETC., REGARDING THIS HORROR YOU ARE CONSIDERING,
, ONCE YOU HAVE A CRACKED OR BROKEN CASTING, YOU HAVE A MAJOR HURT,.
AN ESCALTOR THAT NEEDS WORK, HOLES THA MAY HAVE BEEN FOR SKILL STOPS,
UNLESS YOU ARE BUYING IT AT SUCH A BARGAIN PRICE, AND ARE A GREAT RESTORER , YOU
HAVE TO PASS ON THE MACHINE.(UNLESS IT WAS FOR PARTS)
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO COMPLETE THIS MONSTROSITY YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A QUESTIONABLE ROLLATOP. IF THIS DOES NOT BOTHER YOU,
SHOULD YOU WANT TO SELL IT DON'TT LIST ON E-BAY, DO NOT TRY TO SELL IT ON THIS SITE, FOR THE WAITING TIGERS WILL POUNCE, AND DENOUNCE.

SOMETIMES RESTORATION, WHENTHE BASE PRODUCTS REEEKS WITH PROBLEMS . YOU WILL END UP SPENING AS MUCH AS IF YOU PURCHASED A COMPLETE ONE.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUD, SMELLS LIKE A DUD, PHOTOS LIKE A DUD .........

[goodguy]

I AM AN OLDE TIMER,RECOVERING FROM OPEN HEART SURGERY, GATHERED ENERGY FOR THIS REPLY
HOPIN TO SAVE YOU FUTURE GRIEF.
HAVING STARTED IN THE HOBBY AROUND 1974, AND WATCHED IN AMAZZEMENT
THE CURRENT SITUATON WITH ITS FAKES ETC., REGARDING THIS HORROR YOU ARE CONSIDERING,
, ONCE YOU HAVE A CRACKED OR BROKEN CASTING, YOU HAVE A MAJOR HURT,.
AN ESCALTOR THAT NEEDS WORK, HOLES THA MAY HAVE BEEN FOR SKILL STOPS,
UNLESS YOU ARE BUYING IT AT SUCH A BARGAIN PRICE, AND ARE A GREAT RESTORER , YOU
HAVE TO PASS ON THE MACHINE.(UNLESS IT WAS FOR PARTS)
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO COMPLETE THIS MONSTROSITY YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A QUESTIONABLE ROLLATOP. IF THIS DOES NOT BOTHER YOU,
SHOULD YOU WANT TO SELL IT DON'TT LIST ON E-BAY, DO NOT TRY TO SELL IT ON THIS SITE, FOR THE WAITING TIGERS WILL POUNCE, AND DENOUNCE.

SOMETIMES RESTORATION, WHENTHE BASE PRODUCTS REEEKS WITH PROBLEMS . YOU WILL END UP SPENING AS MUCH AS IF YOU PURCHASED A COMPLETE ONE.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUD, SMELLS LIKE A DUD, PHOTOS LIKE A DUD .........

[markymarkuk]

Thanks for all your comments.

here's some more pictures of the escalator, Looking at the rear you can see some crude weld joints, I'm guessing these were not done by Watling!!!!!!!
Looks like the major part that feeds coins to the wheel rotator is gone!!!

What are your opinions? I think I've made up my mind to pass, even if it was very cheap (which this one is not!!!) I really want a Watling that works as it should.

[TheFatman]

Never did hear what the saler price is .... but if it is more than a double cheese burger, I would pass too.
Dave F

[SLOT DYNASTY]

Judging from those castings, they seem to have Watling part numbers. Either that, or whoever made them
has definite foundry skills. If it was Watling, or anyone else, what is the purpose of this contraption? Does
not make any sense to me. We will have to wait for watlingboy to chime-in on this one, and hopefully set
the record straight. If he doesn't know, then it must be a mystery as to 'Why'.

[watlingboy]

Don't walk, run away from this thing! I don't know where this machine is but I'm guessing it's not in the US. I have seen numerous machines, not just Watlings, over the years, similar to this. The Europeans did these kind of modifications to many machines and I have no clue why. This machine is so screwed up I have neither the time or energy to list everything wrong. But I'll list a few. Entire escalator is gone, as mentioned, no coins rotate, it is a straight drop. Someone attempted to braze the brass coin entry on the mech to the frame, why? Should be held on by two screws. I also think this machine was made for foreign coins and not a US quarter. Repro reel strips and Repro denomination badge. This machine is worth what it is in parts and that would be $1,000, assuming the rest of it hasn't been screwed up. The mech has no value as a complete mech, only parts, clock, frame parts, etc. You would be much better off buying a rough original machine than this. One last thing, seeing the busted up front top casting would have been enough to turn me off this machine. This machine can never be made right.

Watlingboy