Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #063 - 1980 -May [International Arcade Museum]
We'd Like You To Meet: BILL HARRIS
Many of you know Bill as a collector and dealer
You need to hear the enthusiasm of one who has
and as a friend. All of you know him as the editor
come upon a whole room of Roll-A-Tops, Treas
and publisher of The Coin Slot.
has
Until recently he
uries, Cherry
worked on the magazine while carrying on
many other activities which we shall enumerate in
(as
greater or lesser degree in this article.
Liberty
Bill has
graciously acquiesced to remaining as a consultant
and writer.
Fronts and many others.
Perhaps
one of the most enjoyable finds was the oldest
far as is currently known) production style
Bell.
It was so close to mint that very
little restoration work was required.
Let's get to know Bill just a little
more personally.
This brings us up to 1976 and The Coin Slot maga
zine when Bill stepped in as editor and publisher.
Bill
operated
Dakota
Firearms,
a gun store, in
Minot, North Dakota for seven years.
During the next four years the magazine grew and
He was very
became one of the most interesting and informa
involved in black powder firearms as well as modern
tive magazines on coin operated machines.
firearms, bow and arrow and various other sporting
goods items.
to
gun
He traveled throughout the mid-west
shows establishing many
At the same time, Bill developed a book business
contacts who
offering
collectors
information
would be extremely helpful in future years as well
many diversified fields.
as important at that time.
the
slot
machine
Guides by
and
manuals
in
An important addition to
collecting field was the Price
Richard M.
Bueschel.
In the spring of 1969 a flood all but wiped out the
gun store in Minot.
Bill was not to be daunted
We cannot end this article without mention of the
because he also had a spare business, one might
Bill Harris Western Figure Collection.
say a tune yet unheard.
have seen them — life-size, smiling at you while
He collected and sold
Once you
antique coin-operated pianos. He has owned various
taking your money — you'll
Seeburg pianos and orchestrions, Wurlitzer band
They are definitely a wanted collectible as well as
organs and Violano Virtuosos.
a unique work of art since they are hand carved,
never forget them.
painted and fitted.
Early in
1970, Bill moved to Denver, Colorado.
As you may have guessed by now, Bill is a man of
He again became involved in guns and sporting
goods in the Denver area.
many facet's and as time passes we're sure he'll
At the same time he
located more coin operated pianos.
surprise us with even more items that many of
About this
us will want in our collections.
time he became actively interested in other coin-
operated machines, namely slot machines.
We appreciate the time Bill gave us in helping to
Bill has had his "big finds" at times which can
prepare this article and look forward to his forth
only be related in a personal conversation with him.
coming articles.
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