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Collectibles-General (Antiques)/Need price on slot machine

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Expert: - 12/14/2009


Question

Castle 5 cent slot mac
Hello,
I have a circa 1937 original antique 5 cent Mills castle front slot machine with oak sides.  It looks beautiful and everything works.  There is a sheet of paper on the inside with maintenance instructions and dated 3-22-37.  
Q1.  Should I advertise it as an 1937 slot machine?
Q2.  How much do you think it is worth?
Q3.  Where is the best place to sell it?
Thanks for your help.
-Donald.

Answer
Hi Donald,

I had a little trouble logging on here for a day or two but have it fixed and working again so here we are. I have some information already scanned on my computer on this model, if you want to write me at Jackpot7@q.com I'll be happy to attach what I have on it, and email it back to you. It's a lot of the history and value information for this model and all it's different names. The "Mills Castle Front" also know as the "Mills Blue Front", or "Mills Mystery Bell". As for advertising it's year of manufacture, yes it would be find to advertise it as a 1937 Mills Slot Machine, and you could also add; with Jackpot and a working reserve Jackpot, if the jackpots are working OK. Also you might add older restoration, as I can see that at one time it was restored. Value depends on several factors, but first right from a value guide: Grade 1 is new, out of the box or restored to perfect condition and that value is $1,850.00. Grade 2 is refurbished and very very nice and good working, clean slot machine and value for grade 2 is $1,580.00. Grade three is a very nice original working machine, and that value is $1,380.00. Grade 4 is a complete or almost complete working or trying to work but maybe a little slow with almost all it's original parts $1,120.00. The we have the final grade 5, and that is a poor maybe not working machine with a value of around $720.00. In another value guide for a good looking and working complete machine, value is 1,200.00 and that is the guide that fits these the best. If you were to run it on ebay you might see it sell for less then that, maybe about $1,000.00 as prices are down right now on common machines and the spare toy money is at an all time low. I would suggest trying to sell it yourself or consign it to a local antique shop if you can arrange a fair deal with the owner. Also, there is the Internet's "Crags list", another great place to run a free add, and maybe someone local will buy it, and then you can save all the shipping problems. There are several other ways to offer it for sale, want adds, get a photo of for the barber shop to display it, word of mouth, adds on the bulletin board at work, or even at a local auction or one of the larger auction company's.
I hope this helps you Donald, if you need to know anything else, please just ask.

Thank You
Sincerely
Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com

Rodger 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. Please email photo's to: jackpot7@ix.netcom.com My web site is at: http://www.coinslots.com

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!

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