C.O.C.A PROFILE: Rick Akers
What kind of machines do you collect?
My collection is somewhat small but covers several ar-
eas. I have about half a dozen slot machines. I tried to
get one from each manufacture with different features
and different denominations. My two favorite slots are
a Watling ROL-A-TOR and a Bally Reliance. I have
a Jennings Little Duke because it has the disc instead
of reels and I have a couple of the British counter-top
wheel machines because I can't afford a Caille floor
wheel machine. I also have a Mills Vest Pocket because
of its small size. I have a Wurlitzer 412 jukebox, a
couple of music boxes, several old phonographs, two
30's pinball machines, a few trade stimulators, a few
arcade machines, some punchboards, and several old
cameras.
How did you get interested in Coin-Op?
What was your best find?
My coin-op collecting started in stages. I first got inter- My best finds are the ROL-A-TOR and Reliance. I
ested in old phonographs. As a kid I used to play with bought the ROL-A-TOR from a classified ad in the
an old Edison phonograph my grandparents had. That Memphis newspaper and I bought the Reliance from
was the first phonograph in my collection. From it, I St. Louis Slot Machine Company. Jeff Frahm was still
developed an interest in anything mechanical. Later, there at that time and Tom and Jeff are great guys. I've
after high school, a good friend of mine, David, started done quite a bit of business with them .
repairing electronic machines; jukeboxes, vending
machines, and such for a vender to help pay his way What was your worst purchase or experience?
through college. In one of the back rooms he came I guess my worst purchase was a Caille Cadet off eBay.
across a couple of old slots and talked the vender into The machine was misrepresented.
selling them. After seeing these old slots my friend had,
I had to find one for myself. David and I also got in- Are your machines mostly for show or play?
terested in photography and I also started collecting old All of my machines are for non-gambling play. What's
cameras. So now, when you come into my gameroom the point in having these things if you can't play them?
you'll see a mix of old music, coin-op machines, and Most of my stuff is in my gameroom, along with a pool
old photography gear.
table and church pew. Hey, you gotta have something
in there to balance out all these sinful devices.
What was your first purchase?
My first machine was actually three slots. I bought
them from a VFW Post. All three were broken and they
were tired of getting them fixed. It was interesting get-
ting them out of the VFW. The veterans sure didn't like
me taking their machines. I didn't think I was going to
get out of there in one piece. After getting them home,
David helped me get them working again.
Does your spouse like coin-op?
Other collectors that influenced you?
I prefer original machines. The last few machines I've
bought were in pieces. I rebuilt them. As for replica
machines, I don't care for them. Especially if there is
no clear identification that it is a replica machine. I
try to avoid reproduction parts but sometimes that is
Other than my good friend David I think the biggest
influence on me was Dick Bueschel. He was one of the
finest people I've ever met. I sure miss him.
My wife and I have a agreement; if I bring another ma-
chine into the house to stay she gets a new cat. We
have five cats Gloria likes the collection and likes to
decorate around the collection.
Do you prefer machines in all original
condition or fully restored?
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