Original Mills tools on Ebay

[coppinpr]

I had a small bid on these tools on ebay, don't know why I wanted them. Just out of interest, I guess. Anyway, didn't meet the reserve so I didn't get them. I wonder what the seller thought they would go for... Interesting, mostly benders and nut runners by the look of it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dl ... 500wt_1413

[badpenny]

Or why put a reserve? Why not just start the bidding around his best price?

[treefrog]

Yes, I was the highest bidder, so I guess a fair bit is wanted for these, as my bids were way beyond the figure finishing... You do see these come up in the States, so not extremely rare.

[daveslot]

The reserve is £50.

[treefrog]

I guess you asked.....well for me I would need to know what each of the tools do.....now I am going to ask a really dumb question, either because everyone knows the answer or BP provides an alternative answer.....but what is a "bender" tool...... I had assumed it was for aligning the tins/reels, but there are so many different types in this set...

[coppinpr]

Strange as it may seem, bending is a tried and acceptable method of adjusting Mills machines. The slot machine repairers bible for the Mills has a chapter dedicated to it as well as many mentions of it throughout the book. This is what it says:

While bending may seem a crude way to adjust the mech it is the only practiced and practical method. Most parts in a slot machine were formed by bending, formed by a punch press, and so bending for proper adjustment is only the final step in the manufacture of the parts.

Having the right tools to do this would be very nice

[badpenny]

Strange as it may seem, bending is a tried and acceptable method of adjusting Mills machines. The slot machine repairers bible for the Mills has a chapter dedicated to it as well as many mentions of it throughout the book. This is what it says:

While bending may seem a crude way to adjust the mech it is the only practiced and practical method. Most parts in a slot machine were formed by bending, formed by a punch press, and so bending for proper adjustment is only the final step in the manufacture of the parts.

Having the right tools to do this would be very nice

Strewth! was I miles out?

[coppinpr]

I am now the proud owner of this set of Mills tools thanks to a very good friend of mine who, without mentioning it to me, went to the guy selling them on ebay, bought them and gave them to me as a gift, totally out of the blue! I won't mention any names, but he does frequent this forum from time to time. Anyway, my thanks to him once again. Every time I bend an important Mills part in the wrong direction, I'll think of him

[andydotp]

Wow Coppinpr, what a fantastic gesture on your friend's behalf
Can you introduce this fine person to me please? He may wish to buy me Coronet for fifteen Ozzie grands and give it to Badpenny for Chrizzy...

[badpenny]

................. wish I had friends

[treefrog]

Coppin,
This was the guy I got the manuals from, very knowledgeable. I hope your friend managed to get the "how to use" info from him, especially each of the bending tool, as I am intrigued how they work...

[coppinpr]

The guy told him they were given to his grandfather by a man who was an early pioneer in slot machine design. He did tell me the guy's name (Fey?), might be wrong,. I'll find out. If it's true, it's interesting. Bending tools are not uncommon in metal work. You latch the slot onto the piece your bending and... bend it. Not rocket science. It will cause stress weakening, but this is very slight, unless you go crazy.

[coppinpr]

Following on to my friend buying me these tools, my wife has made me this rather nice tool roll and embroidered the Mills logo onto it, nice!

[badpenny]

And very nice it looks too.
A splendid suggestion would be to roll it up nicely, place it in your back pocket then go for a wander around a car park late in the evening.

One of two things will happen .........
The Rozzers will either say: -
"ooh look a set of machine tools from mills bell- o- matic (USA) 12 pieces vertical benders, side benders, horizontal benders and end benders and reel keys, wow"
or .........
They'll introduce you to the expression Going Equipped and the ramifications involved.

Let us know how it goes.

[coppinpr]

My wife is a magistrate and knows all the laws on 'going equipped'. Perhaps she's setting me up!

[rockola]

Tool Kit only $75 put a name to some of you're new old tools

[badpenny]

Chute Assy & Bender Round Large ????

I say! Have a care, you're talking about the woman I love!