Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #073 - 1981 - March [International Arcade Museum]
SERIAL NUMBER
UPDATE
By Dick Bueschel
The great looking Mills BLACK CHER
RY of the 1945-1948 period. This is
the 250 play serial 485, 621 model in
the Rich Taylor collection. Here's the
interesting part The front plate is
Buckley. The hunch is that this is early
BLACK CHERRY production, possibly
December 1945 or around then, later
rehabbed and revamped by Buckley
to get it back in running shape.
Buckley did a lot of that between 1947
and 1951. The finish is hammertone
silver, with red wrinkle around the es
calator, with the cherries red and
green. The cabinet is light oak, a tip
off to Buckley, as the Mills cabinets
were black.
Boy, was I wrong! A month or so ago I came to
and now we have proof. Russ and Nancy Diaz (Nancy may
the conclusion that the Serial Number Update
well
feature was all but dead. The numbers had
machines, and she does a fantastic and very detailed job)
be the only woman
in the country that restores
trickled down to a ... trickle. Not much new
gave your author a long list of serials at the Christy's auc
was
unique
tion in New York in late November, 1980. There, in the list,
machines. And the "repeats" were getting as numerically
were two early "Maltese Cross" SILENT machines. One,
showing
up
in
the
way
of
important as the "originals" (i.e. repeats being machines
serial
that were sold or traded to other collectors who, in turn,
265,015, was quarter. So that solves that.
261,781, was
nickel
play,
and the other, serial
submitted the numbers for a second time). The month
Another interesting fact of life came through just as Coin
after I expressed that opinion in print things looked better
Slot Guide No. 31 for the Jennings TODAY was being
and more serials came through. But still a trickle.
wrapped up at the printer. This guide covers the many
Then came the explosion! Whammo. Since New Year's
models of the TODAY and refers to the change in the front
pictures, serials, data, "new machines", revisions of old
castings from the "Quality Mints" to the "Quality Confec
machines and all sorts of things have poured into THE
tions" fronts, showing details for both fronts as well as the
COIN CLOT editorial offices and my own mail box. It's
numerous
been exciting as hell. You'll share in the excitement.
comes a serial 1,062 for a "Quality Mints" TODAY serving
Probably the most exciting thing is the confirmation of a
jackpot
and
other
variations.
Then,
along
as solid proof that the "Mints" model came before the
number of hunches, particularly in relation to dates. We've
"Confections" model. A lot of people knew that, but it takes
got some great examples this month as you'll see. As a
starter, we now have another clearly dated Mills DEWEY, a
the serials to make the proof.
The Jennings 1926 OPERATOR BELL serial is
5$ play machine with the serial 3,517 dated March 28,
also interesting, for it is for the "Dutch Boy"
1901. You may remember that early in this series we
model,
wondered if Mills OWL and DEWEY machines were in the
teresting?
Well,
beginning
to call
same serial track, and hoped that they had seperate serial
serial
73,350
these
this
in
5$
days
play.
Why
collectors
in
are
machine the "Dutch
numbers. Well, they obviously do. Mills OWL machines
Boy/Dutch Girl" model, a minor shift in machine identifica
were well over the 3,500 mark by 1901, so the fact that a
tion.
DEWEY serial in this range is dated in 1901 makes the
point.
Now we need some Mills 20TH CENTURY and
ROULETTE numbers to make sure that they have their
own serial track over and above that for the OWL
and
We're still calling this machine the "Dutch Boy", but if
you hear the longer name, that's what it is.
We are also indebted to Richard S. Taylor for more
photos. You'll see the new machines In the list, and the
DEWEY and their run-off variations. So if anyone can shed
.com
m
:
the 20TH CENTURY, send the numbers
in. We
need them.
u
rom the -m
use Cross" Mills
f that's
Next we have a lulu, and
"Maltese
d
e
e
SILENT "War Eagle".
advertising and literature
load The .a early
rcad shows
n
w
for the twin-jackpot
"War
Eagle"
a denominator (the
o
w
D
w that indicates the
w
/
plug in the gooseneck
coinage) that is
/
:
ttp
h "Maltese
similar to a
Cross" without the coinage indicated.
photo captions add some additional meat to the bones.
some light on the Mills ROULETTE or the many models of
Data this month came from Richard S. Taylor of San
Jose, CA; Fred Giovannini of Oakland, CA; another
California collector who wishes to remain unnamed;
Harvey Joseph of New Jersey; Russ and Nancy Diaz, also
of New Jersey; Phil Frey of Columbus, OH; Ian Stevens of
Columbia Heights, MN, and a collector who wishes to re
main unidentified, both by name and state. It's a good list
It was thought that this was only on 5$ machines. But no,
this month, thanks to all of you.
— THE COIN SLOT
© 12 The
International Arcade Museum
MARCH 1981
http://www.arcade-museum.com/