Coin Slot

Issue: 1981 June 076

Coin Slot Magazine - #076 - 1981 - June [International Arcade Museum]
Dear Don,
That WatJing is a zing-dandy. WatJing called the
machine — it isn't really a machine, it's a special cabinet
made to compete against the Jennings CONSOLE CHIEF
and the Mills CLUB BELL — the ROL-A-TOP ONE MAN
CONSOLE. It came out in the summer of 1938, and the
advertisement shown here is from the August 1938 issue
LETTERS
TO
THE
EDITOR
of THE COIN MACHINE JOURNAL.
It's original for sure, and came with any and all Watl
ing models. The one shown in the Watling ad is the "Bird
of Paradise" model.
As for the JACKPOT, it's the original model offered by
the Lincoln Novelty Company in Toledo in 1928. The
serial 204,748 shows it to he a late production Mills
OPERATOR BELL "Buliseye" of 1928 or 1929.
Sincerely,
Editor
Dear Editor,
I recently had the opportunity to purchase a Watling,
Cherry Front, Roll-a-top. As you can tell, it is in a club
cabinet (see picture enclosed). I have many books on slot
machines including the Coin Slot Guide #9 and I haven't
found much about Watling console bell machines. Can
The One Man
2
MACHINES
IN
1
you tell me, how many machines did Watling produce in
floor model cabinets and did they make them for any of
their other models such as the coin front, bird of
Paradise, castle front, etc.? It is in excellent, original con
dition and I know the history of this particular machine
from the time it was brand new. I know it is not an add
on cabinet. The serial number of the machine is 89464
and the number stamped on the floor cabinet is #26.
I have another machine that has me confused, (see pic
ture enclosed). It has a Mills mechanism, cabinet and top
casting. By the serial #201748, I imagine it was originally
built in the mid twenties. The front casting is a revamp
with a jackpot, but I have not been able to tell who made
it. Can you help? It is in excellent condition and I'm sure
it will restore beautifully.
1 am also including a list of serial numbers of the
machines I have had in the past year. I do have good
color pictures of almost all of them.
Sincerely,
Don Rock
k Olber Machine With So Many Good Features al Such a Law Price
feu., Con»j. i, .quipp.d -ilh Ih. l.m.i* Rol.A.Iop
Ik., No. J. ,.d . mmb* .1 otto »p,,..m.nh found I. u
..l.m.lid, (II, .,d drop, .If.m.t.ly, lint No. I .»d
Don't W.K,
INVENTED
pri.lt. b.r, .nd Ik. «..,< loc.tion,. O,d., . ,impl..
VVIHE — Your Ord«!
AND MADE
ONLY BY
^
WATLING MANUFACTURING COMPANY
4640-4660 W««t Fulton Street, Chicago. Illinois. U. S. A.
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Russ Jensen c/o The Coin Slot
I have been reading your articles in The Coin Slot with
a great deal of interest. I own a machine that I would like
to know about. It is an Exhibit Supply Company "Fast
Ball. " I would like to know:
a) When it was made?
b) How many?
c) Current market value?
© 8
The
International
—THE
COIN Arcade
SLOT Museum
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
June 1981
Coin Slot Magazine - #076 - 1981 - June [International Arcade Museum]
Letters to the Editor continued
d)
Was this machine probably used as a gaming
device?
predated.
cles for the Coin Slot will be of interest to you. If you
have any more questions concerning pinball history
please fell free to write.
Yours Truly,
Russell Jensen
I think that a book about pinball machines similar to
Dick Bueschel's with a short write up, a picture and a
price guide would be very well received.
Thanks,
1652 Euclid Ave.
Camarillo, CA
93010
G.R. Sale
Dear Sirs:
Dear Mr. Sale,
a parts list or Blueprint plan? Model No. 123031
I have a 4 Star Jennings 10c slot machine. Do you have
We have sent your letter on to our pinball expert, Russ
Jensen as you requested. He will answer all of your ques
tions.
In regard to your question about a book on pinballs
similar to Dick Bueschel's books — SURPRISE — the
book is being written at this time! It should be published
later this year. You will be one of our first recipients I'm
sure.
Sincerely,
Editor
Gloria Tharne
Dear Gloria,
There certainly is a parts list, and a complete manual
— including photos and schematics and drawings —
showing you how to fix and maintain your Jennings
CHIEF ("4 Star Chief) 100 play machine. It's Coin Slot
Guide No. 2 titled JENNINGS CHIEF. The cost is $7.45
postpaid from Coin Slot Books.
Incidentally, your serial of 123,031 indicates 1936
production.
Sincerely,
Dear Mr. Sale,
Thank you for your recent letter concerning pinball.
Editor
Your machine FAST BALL was manufactured by Exhibit
Supply Co. in July 1946. It was the second pinball
machine to be put out by that company after the ban on
their manufacture was lifted at the end of World War II.
As to how many were produced, that information was
generally a closely guarded secret of the manufacturer
Continued on page 10
and such information is virtually impossible to obtain.
As far as the present value of your machine is con
cerned it would be hard to say. At this time there is still
no significant collector's market for old pingames as
there is for slot machines and juke boxes. For this reason
prices cannot be based on other sales of the same or
similar items. An old pinball is worth whatever someone
is willing to pay for it considering the condition of the
machine and how bad the prospective buyer wants it.
One of the biggest price determiners is the condition of
the paint on the backglass, as a game with a peeling
backglass is virtually worthless to most collectors. I'm
sorry I cannot give you a better answer but honestly
that's the facts.
Concerning your machine's possible use as a gaming
device: The type of pingame that was built to be used for
gambling was generally the "multiple coin'1 machines
[commonly known as "one-balls" and "bingos"J which I
am describing in some of my articles for the Coin Slot.
Your machine was the type manufacturered as an
amusement machine, however, many amusement games
.com
m
u
e
were used by some operators or location owners for
gambling purposes. This was generally done by paying
off patrons in cash or merchandise for free games won
on the machine. It is therefore hard to say how a par
ticular machine was actually used.
:
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Do //www
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I hope I was
http able to give you at least some of the infor
mation you were seeking. At any rate I appreciate your
BUY/SELL
Arcade
Machines
Slot
&
Machines
WE HAVE ARCADE MACHINES
FOR COLLECTORS AND
LOCATIONS
ICE CREAM PARLORS,
ARCADES, RESTAURANTS,
AMUSEMENT PARKS.
CALL US FOR YOUR NEEDS!
STEVE GRONOWSKI
8008 Memory Lane
Chicago, IL 60656
(312) 775-4023
interest in early pinball and sincerely hope that my arti
© The International Arcade Museum
June 1981
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
THE COIN SLOT —9

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