Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #067 - 1980 - September [International Arcade Museum]
Letter from a Collector
The following letter was sent to Bill Harris with the cover
letter which preceeds it. It is almost ironic that we received this
particular letter at this time when we arefocusing on the legality
ofpossessing "antique" slot machines. Please take note of the
last part of the letter.
We want to thank Mr. Fischlfor his very interesting letter and
invite him to write for us.
Dear Bill,
Enclosed is a copy of my letter to John Neeley, author of
the article "Auction Protection" which appeared in the
September 79 issue of Loose Change. Parts of it may be of
interest to you.
I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your fine
work with The Coin Slot and to thank you for your many
contributions to the needs of collectors of coin-operated
amusement devices.
May you continue to prosper!
Very truly yours,
Louis J. Fischl
the ad! Nevertheless, I drove to San Francisco for the
auction, and when I entered the display room I looked for
the "arcade equipment" and "slots." There was one juke
box and a few small horses (apparently from a merry-go-
round). No slots!!! I asked the persons registering bidders,
July 8, 1980
Dear John,
Ever since the publication of your article "Auction
Protection" in the September 79 issue of Loose Change I
have been intending to write and thank you for your
successful efforts in adding to the enlightenment of
collectors of coin-operated amusement devices and to
respond to your request fora report of others' experiences
at auctions. The work of writers, like yourself, and
publishers, like Mead and Harris, has immeasurably
helped and entertained collectors, like myself.
I have attended most of the auctions held by Roy
Arrington, and I have great respect for both Mr. and Mrs. A.
I have never experienced any feeling of "irregularities"
during those auctions. One year, however, I was interested
in certain pin-ball machines pictured in the brochure.
They were not on the floor, and when I questioned Roy, he
responded (to the best of my recollection), "Those are
pictures of machines from previous auctions." In terms of
doing business, however, I have more confidence in the
AWngtons than others in the business.
A few general observations: It is most annoying when
lots are not put up for sale in consecutive order. It is very
suspicious when lot numbers are added of machines not
previously displayed (e.g., 96A, 96B, etc.). It is unbearable
when individual lot numbers are not announced (This was
all too common at the May auction conducted by The
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COIN SLOT
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Arcade Museum
disclosed agents should not be allowed to bid on the
equipment. This is the rule of Butterfield & Butterfield in
San Francisco (established since 1865).
At their auctions, the Arringtons have had various van
line representatives, and I have arranged for several
shipments to Palo Alto. At times, the charges seemed high
but NEVER exhorbitant, and the service was excellent. At
least, the service was available for those who wanted to
use it. It is essential for those of us who fly to theauctions.
At The Antique Gambler Auction in Vegas I was very
interested in a Mills 4-Bells on display. Before bidding, I
thought that I should check to see if a van line represen
tative would be in attendance. I spoke with SIX persons
associated with the auction (one was inebriated) before I
received a direct answer: No van line representative. One
suggested they would ship it air freight
a Mills 4
Bells!!!!????
Speaking of getting the "run-around," the insult of all
insults occurred at the June 28th Architectural Antiques
auction in San Francisco. In response to the ad (copy
enclosed), I phoned for the "brochure" (West Virginia
number). The brochure contained less information than
"Where are the slots?" They said, "Ask the man in the
yellow shirt." When I asked the man in the yellow shirt, he
said, "ask the man in the red shirt." When I asked the man
in the red shirt, he stared into space, looked puzzled, and
said, "Let me check; I'll be right back." I stood there twenty
minutes; he never reappeared!!! I depart with the thought
that perhaps I was that much better off not having to deal
with such an outfit ("New Gastle Salvage").
I suspect that many collectors enjoy "swapping" stories
on slots and pin-balls as much as "Swapping" sex stories.
Publishers might encourage the submission of such
stories to be used when more important items are not
available. For example, when I was a kid in high school in
Oakland, Galifornia, I developed an intense interest in
slots and pin-balls. Somehow, I managed to collect a few
(including
"Contact,"
"Nek-n-Nek,"
"Top
Hat,"
"Stampede," "Jumbo," "World Series" . . . and even a
"Roll-a-Top". . . among others). I used to hang around the
shop of a pin-ball operator, and when he realized that I
"knew" something about the machines, he offered me a
job during the summer. It was a great disappointment
when my parents refused to allow me to work in "that"
environment.
At the time when "possession" was made illegal in
California . . . thanks to Earl Warren (who first started the
"purge" as District Attorney of Alameda County). . . Mills
had some sort of distribution center in Oakland (near the
old 16th Street Southern Pacific train depot). They started
getting rid of their machines in rapid order (I used to hang
around there also). I could have purchased a Mills 4 Bells
in excellent condition for $35.. .yes, thirty-five dollars. . .
SEPTEMBER, 1980
http://www.arcade-museum.com/