AboutRodger Knutson Expertise I am an expert on old coin operated machines, slot machines, trade stimulator's, jukeboxes, old arcade machines, etc. I have been identifying these for people who respond to my web site listed below, for a few years now. In almost all cases I am able to tell them about their old coin operated machines, the year, the value, and other general information about their machines. I do not know much about soda vending machines, coin banks, or scales, but I will try to help you with these if I can.
Experience I bought my first slot machine, a .50 Cent Mills Black Cherry in 1969 and have been hooked from that time, I still have that Slot machine! Before that I found a open barrel full of old scraped jukebox wall boxes behind a restaurant, I wanted them all but never took a one of them. Anything that took a coin drove me nuts!
I looked for the serial number on the Mills Castle Nickel Slot Machine we had discussed earlier, the numbers I found were MLB 2502-A, MLB 2572 & MLB 2518, can you tell me if any of these might be the serial number and if not where I might find it on the machine?? I was trying to determine the exact year on this so I might sell it at auction, it looks like it does have the dual jackpots, and the bump on the left side of the reels like you had mentioned, and there is a copyright 1910 on the reels themselves. I was also wondering how much the machine weighs approximately, and how one might package and ship this machine so as it does not get damaged in transit, thanks in advance.
Paul
Answer Hi Paul,
MLB numbers are just casting part numbers. The serial number is stamped in the casting at the top right front Conner of the top casting, just above the right wood side or handle side, on top. It could be covered in paint, so look closely, Top front Conner. The 1910 date on the reel strips has nothing to do with the slot machine. Mills copyrighted the reel strips in 1910 and used them from then all the way into the 60's. It's a copyright date of all mills reel strips. I guess the machine weighs about 85 pounds. For shipping I use a U-Haul box called a dish barrow or dish pack box, it's a very strong cardboard box. I also line all four sides of the box with Styrofoam sheet insulation about 1" thick from home depot, I use the 4x8 sheet with foil on both sides. You can cut it with a box knife. I put the machine in a garbage bag and Tye it, put a small hole in it to let the air out and drop the machine into the lined box and fill it with styrofoam peanut's. the garbage bag keeps the peanuts from working there way inside the machine. Then I also use that nylon embedded wide boxing tape, u-hual also has this.
Thanks
Sincerely
Rodger Knutson
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