Jennings prices

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polaris
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Jennings prices

Post by polaris »

Fairly recent Jennings on ebay sold for £717. Is this a true representation of the prices they can achieve? Got a horrible feeling I just agreed to sell two I have a little cheap?
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badpenny
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Re: jennings prices

Post by badpenny »

I think you've answered your own question there as it did sell for £717. !PUZZLED!

If you'd auctioned them here you'd have let the market dictate the value. You may have gotten less though.
Still as we were saying only a few days ago about selling something. If you say yes to selling then it's because you're happy with the price. :cool:

Plus you're not always comparing apples to apples, there is a need to involve .......
Distance
Model
Completeness Locks keys, cash tin,
Condition of chrome, cabinet, graphics.

BP
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treefrog
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by treefrog »

I have paid from £400 to £700 for all my Jennings Govenors, all working, complete etc, so prices can vary as stated wildley...It take two to want an item to push the price up......
polaris
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by polaris »

Thanks for info and putting my mind at ease. Sold both for £1100, so was quite happy. Think just the realisation that they are gone left me in mourning and now need to replace them.
pennymachines
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by pennymachines »

Jennings Governors and Club Chief prices have always been erratic. Once ubiquitous in arcades and clubs, with their iconic Indian head and brash Americana flashiness, they're bound, occasionally, to attract buyers from beyond the slot machine collecting fraternity.

They were selling for £400-700 in the 1980s, so in real terms they've dropped in value...
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badpenny
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by badpenny »

pennymachines wrote:............ brash Americana flashiness...
Hell's Teeth! Mr P you've just described my dream woman.
halski
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by halski »

I have just looked at the one on ebay that sold for that amount. the condition seemed poor esp the chrome, but then again it didn't look that pitted - might it have come up nice with some polish and general cleanup?

I am a complete newbie and just developing an acute enthusiasm for the genre so please excuse my brashness and the untidy link below....

THE GOVERNOR JENNINGS COLLECTABLE AWP Fruit machine classic one arm bandit
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tatty-governor.JPG
pennymachines
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by pennymachines »

The chrome on the top casting appears to be rippled and peeling. Once it's started to lift, polishing and cleaning will only reveal more defects. For some reason, the Jennings front and back bonnet are lighter and more porous than the lower casting, which should polish up nicely. It will probably cost between £200-300 to get them re-plated - that's if the buyer can find a plater prepared to tackle the job.
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coppinpr
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by coppinpr »

I have just looked at the one on ebay that sold for that amount.
I believe this one sold for well over the correct price, I bought the exact same machine (same colors,same coinage, 2 pulls per play) but 10 times better condition eight months ago for £500, as PM says, takes two to tango, a thing is only worth what the buyer will pay.
raj
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by raj »

Well done to the seller, he got a premium price for a very ordinary Governor requiring a lot of work. Has it got a back door or back bonnet? Are the sides Formica? Is the base riddled with worm or is it a 'special' straw board version?...who knows. I suspect this will be re-advertised due to non payment once the buyer sobers up.
The 10 coin payout is not a good selling point really and points to other 'improvements' that may have taken place during it's last revamp that are not obvious from the description or photo. All the coach bolts will be rusty and probably seized into the sides.
The bottom casting is made by high pressure die casting, as I understand it, which differs from the process for the other 2 parts, which are made of pot metal. The bottom casting is under tension, and will easily break if dropped or struck hard.
Impurities in the mix combined with temperature changes and the porosity of the plating will cause oxidization of the metal.
Replating may only delay this process for while as yet more impurities from the plating tank become deposited on the base metal. A good polishing company can do a good job with these, and the end result can be maintained quite easily with good quality mirror finish polish ( not Autosolve).
Have fun.. **xXx**
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by pennymachines »

raj wrote:...the end result can be maintained quite easily with good quality mirror finish polish (not Autosolve).
Can you tell me why you don't recommend Autosol and what brand of mirror finish polish you use?
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by raj »

AutoSol is a very good general purpose polish, however it is too abrasive for mirror finishes (as per the instruction sheet) and will dull a good high polish finish, if only slightly. I use Briliant metal Polish for stainless and aluminium, and it does what it says on the tin, if the instructions are followed correctly. Extensively recommended by bikers and custom car fanatics, it is quite dear, but lasts a long time. !!THUMBSX2!!
http://www.briliant.biz/
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by pennymachines »

Cheers! !!THUMBSX2!!
polaris
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by polaris »

Hi raj,
You seem to be very knowledgeable about Jennings - what advice can you give to a novice like me when purchasing one of these machines? What do you mean by straw board? Why do I see some solid wood sides with numbers etched on side?
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Re: Jennings prices

Post by raj »

An expert :lol: , not for another few decades yet, I think.
Anyway, I've had a good few over the years, so have seen many versions of the machines.
They were shipped out from the US in the 1000s after the UK gaming laws were relaxed and export lines were set up. These are generally the best to buy, often with an 18coin/6d top flash, however many were made for Cruise ships, Casinos and US armed forces around the world. They would typically have wood sides with mahogany or similar stained sides and a blockboard/chipboard base, or a 'Executive' genuine Formica square edged side version. Other options would include the highly sought after vertical light strips in the front casting, in different colours. An untouched item should have matching side and mech numbers, but mechs were often swapped around.

Sometime in '6os there were production lines set up in Cyprus, amongst other places, to recycle the worn out models, and they were rebuilt using inferior materials. Copy castings, strawboard bases and re-manufactured mech parts made from junk metal started to appear. Later, in the UK, other local companies were producing copy cabinets and castings for operators to do their own upgrades. Even escalators have been copied. Back doors were replaced often, as they are easy to break into, and are still manufactured today in the US.
That's it, enough for now. Others will no doubt throw in their thoughts... :tarah:
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