my wallet got instantly lighter. Thank God Mike
Gorski, whom I had previously bought a Donkey
Fortune Teller from, vouched for my check, which
covered the difference.
When I got the Page Turner back to my place in
Woodland Hills, Calif. and saw it in action, I real-
ized why he wouldn't negotiate on price. It has 17
movements! It was in its original shipping box.
The little guy in the tuxedo periodically shakes the
bell which tingles, he moves his head, his eyes
move, amazingly even his eyebrows arch up and
down, his lips move in a way that suggests he is
talking. The pages, which discuss the sins of alco-
holic consumption, actually turn every 20 seconds.
Everything is synchronized. This was probably a
1920's machine used during the prohibition. I love
that stuff. The story doesn't end there. My abili-
ty to step up to the plate on these two purchases
eventually put me at the top of his list on other
machines he had only recently decided to sell -
including a Gorski Madame Zita and a Genco
Madame Fortune Teller on a pedestal. Now I only
need the Puss N Boots to complete the magical
trio! (Mike.remember, I'm #4!) Anyway, we con-
cluded the Genco and Zita deals at the Chicagoland
Show April 3, 2004!
In making purchase decisions, each person has
different criteria. Obviously, the higher the price,
the more hand- wringing involved. The mistakes
I've made in the past are certainly part of the edu-
cation process. Of course, no one likes to overpay
- or be ripped off.
With the Page Turner, Striking Clock and
Madame Zita I asked myself:
Did I really have to have them? Answer: Yes.
GUMBALLS GALORE
BUY - SELL
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(616) 453-8044
Did I really want them? Yes.
Had I seen stuff like that before? No, at least
not for sale.
Would I see these again for sale? Maybe,
maybe not, but not anytime soon - or at those
pnces.
Am I by nature a patient fellow who likes to
wait? A resounding "No".
Was I buying from a guy who I had seen before
at Chicagoland who always had good stuff and a
good reputation? Yes.
Did I get the sense he was fair in what he was
asking? Yes.
In short, while I was somewhat ignorant in these
purchases, and didn't have Ira or another expert
close by to advise me, I relied on my gut. Over the
years, if I have learned anything, it is that, to
snooze is to lose and sometimes you've simply got
to take a leap of faith, and sometimes, a big leap.
Do we go around this world but once?
My advice - go with your gut. You never know
where you are going to see neat stuff, but when you
do, assuming you can afford it, you have to step up
to the plate - and possibly spend more than you
intended too. There is nothing worse than getting
that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when
you don't pull the trigger, leave, and then come
back twenty minutes later both excited and ready to
do the deal, and see some joker putting cash in the
guy's hand for that very machine that had your
name on it. As most collectors know, we often
remember most vividly the machine we let get
away - not the great one we just bought.
Thanks Doug.
Buy - Sell - Trade - Rent - Repair
JOHN T. JOHNSTON'S
JUKEBOX CLASSICS 8l
VINTAGE SLOT MACHINES, INC.
Top Prices Paid For:
Old Juke Boxes -Slot Machines
6742 FIFTH AVE.
BROOKLYN, NY 11220
I
(718) 833-8455
Fax(718)833-0560