You are here:

Collectibles-General (Antiques)/Mills 5 Cent Black Cherry Slot Machine

Advertisement

Expert: - 6/24/2010


Question

Front View
Greetings,
I have been trying to nail down exactly what model of slot machine this is and an approximate value.  I inherited it from my father in law several years ago, and have someone who is interested in buying it.   From what I can tell, it most resembles a Mills Black Cherry 5 cent machine.  However, what apparently is different is the the front does not show cherries  as is typical, but instead has a sun burst pattern.  Please see the attach photo.  One article I found stated that they had many varieties of this machine.     I cannot locate a serial number and I am guessing he bought it restored.  It is in working condition.  Is the serial number in a hidden spot, or is it possible that not all slots had serial numbers?

Can you give me some assistance on what model this is?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Harry

Answer
Hi Harry,

Buckley..... It's a Buckley made slot machine, not a Mills. Buckley copied Mills machines to a "T" almost. The top casting that surrounds the coin escalator glass on top is Buckley all the way, Mills never used this, the sun burst lower casting, and the award bib is also Buckley. You could remove these parts, use cherries instead of gold bars on front and it would looks just like a Mills Black Cheery Machine machine. Mills never used Gold Bars either and this is a Buckley item, the gold bars on front. Some Buckley's used Mills made mechanisms inside them and others have a much lighter copy of the mills mechanism but Buckley made mechanism inside. I see by the guaranteed jackpot amount paper, that this machine most likely doesn't have a working jackpot inside. Value is in a range of 800.00 to 1,200.00 for this machine.

Thank You
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!

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.