Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #082 - 1981 - December [International Arcade Museum]
Letters to the Editor continued
reel strips, pay symbols and payouts. Also, it has been
repainted in its new guise (the original JEWEL was maroon).
Does that mean it isn't what it is reputed to be? Not at all
Revampingfor casino use is a very validform ofBell machine,
I would appreciate any information you can give me regarding
this machine so I may restore it to as close to original condition
and yours is a Mills "Whatever", depending on who had it
revamped, and for what location. Our gut hunch is that the
as possible. Thank you very much for your efforts. Please return
machine was revamped for Nevada casino use, but similar
the photos in the enclosed envelope.
revamps were made in Maryland when slots were legal there,
and in Illinois when they ran illegally until the late 1960s.
Bringing it back to JEWEL standards isn't that big a job.
Yes, you can plug the discs, and The Coin Slot advertisers offer
new reel strips. Also, you'll be able to pick up a "Club Handle"
as they are also being sold by The Coin Slot advertisers. Asfar
Sincerely yours,
R.J. Gange
Dear Robert,
Thanks for a very complete description, and some detailed
photos ofyour machine. We needed every bit ofthem as you'll
see.
Mills Industries made a lot of"Hightop" machines; wellover
a dozen different models. But one thing about them is that they
are distinctive, either by the cabinet trim, castings or other
special features.
Therefore, we immediately spotted your
"Hightop" as a Mills JEWEL, the first of the "Hightop" line.
But from that point on things get a bit hazy. As the first
"Hightop", the JEWEL sold like hotcakes between 1947 and
1951, and after that was maintained and sometimes revamped
by Bell-O-Matic in Reno, Nevada, and elsewhere. Your
machine is such a revamp.
It might help us a bit to know where your machine camefrom,
and it would help a lot to have a serial number. But in their
absence, we'll go by conjecture. First, the machine has been
considerably revamped,
both
with the late Bell-O-Matic
"Gearshift" play handle (the original JEWEL had a casting
called the "Club Handle") and the very extensive revision ofthe
as appearance is concerned, and the mechanical details, Coin
SlotGuideNo. 1 covers the JEWEL, andNo. 6 covers all ofthe
"Hightop" lines, so that'll bring you up to standard
But why do it? Your machine is interesting as the dickens as
it is, and there can't be many more ofthem around It's a matter
ofpersonal preference, of course, but those dice are wild!
Sincerely,
The Editor
P. S.
We'll send your photos back after we run them in the
magazine. Our readers will be interested in this one. And, we're
very glad to have you as a new subscriber.
Dear Editor,
Here is the picture of "THE STAR" that I called you
about I can't tell you too much about the machine because
my friend has it and lives out of state. I did take this picture
and drawing of where the coin head went The door to get into
the mechanism is on the side. I did not look close enough to
the mechanism to see if there are any initials in the castings.
Wish I had! Any idea about where I could get a head?
BUY/SELL
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10-THE
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December 1981
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