Clearing out my dad's garage and found this - help please

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robtowers
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Clearing out my dad's garage and found this - help please

Post by robtowers »

I have no details regarding this. All I remember is playing on it when I was little.

Unfortunately I am now having to clear out my dad's garage and have no idea what to do with it.

I am looking for help in identifying the model and make and whether it would be worth refurbishing at all with a view to selling on to a good home?
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treefrog
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Re: Clearing out my dads garage and found this - help please

Post by treefrog »

Welcome Rob,

What a nice find to have in your garage. What you have a here is a Mills Hi Top in a console case, probably early 50's maybe late 40's. Also has providence from a Casino. Looks like it has seen the wars, but this is a desirable machine and I would be first on your case. It is missing a few bits, but they are replaceable, eg the front Jackpot cover and cannot see if the rear door is there. Look clean up nice and sell very well if you were thinking of shifting on or display nice in your Lounge if keeping.

If you need help or advice we can help, the parts will be easy to get, I believe I have bits already for this. If you want to sell, there are a number of collectors auctions coming up that you could put it in and get your best price, Coventry is taking items now and auction is next month, also the Elephant House has monthly auctions......Let us know so I can get my cash ready :D
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treefrog
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Re: Clearing out my dads garage and found this - help please

Post by treefrog »

Was trying to work out where the Casino was. There is a big one in Northern Spain, obviously not this on 6D, but it appears to be a common name - Hove, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Reading, so who knows?
robtowers
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Re: Clearing out my dads garage and found this - help please

Post by robtowers »

My dad met a chap, must have been over 40 years ago, who used to supply them to London clubs.
This chap lived in Surrey and converted from 6D into 1p coins when my dad bought one off him.
aristomatic
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Re: Clearing out my dads garage and found this - help please

Post by aristomatic »

Yes, not the normal garage find at all.
I am no fan of machines in this style of console but there are many who are. As TF says, the parts to complete this machine are either at hand or easily sourced for those that are interested. I'm not sure of your location but if you decide to sell, due to its bulk you may wish to take advantage of the Elephant's collection service. I think its only £10.

I would be wary of any prompt offers. Wherever you decide to sell this item, I am sure it will reach its potential. You may of course decide to keep. If so, there are plenty here to help to return the item to complete
and fully working.

Good luck with whatever you decide,

GP.
robtowers
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Re: Clearing out my dads garage and found this - help please

Post by robtowers »

Thank you very much for your replies.
I am interested to know what its approx value would be if I restored it? But also the approx cost to refurbish?
I don't know whether I would like to part with it but if it would be given a better home and appreciated more if I did sell then that's a consideration.

Thanks again.
silverbitz
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Re: Clearing out my dads garage and found this - help please

Post by silverbitz »

Different model but similar console. Not everyone loves them but they come up well.
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Can't find it but its original picture is on here somewhere.
Can't find it but its original picture is on here somewhere.
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coppinpr
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Re: Clearing out my dads garage and found this - help please

Post by coppinpr »

In my view, you have something special here. As said before, not everyone's cup of tea but certainly mine. My advise would be restore it and keep in on show IF YOU HAVE ROOM, otherwise, sadly sell it to someone who has the room. To someone like yourself, who is not a collector, this type of machine takes on a different face. These Art Deco style consoles can really look good in a large room whereas just the bare machine is...interesting.. unusual and a talking point but not special.

The machine, I suspect will not need much work, only cleaning up and the missing parts replacing - nothing expensive or hard to do there. The console needs work but even if you decide to sell and can't do the work yourself, its definitely worth getting it restored. In restored condition, I'd insure it for £1500. That does not mean you can sell it for that, perhaps, but only on the right day. It's big, a collector will either have to have it or won't look at it twice. We don't like to give valuations here for one reason: in a collector's view there is no correct price, only what an individual (who wants it) will pay for it, Get two who do in the same auction room and they will bid this through the roof. Get only one in the room and it will go for £500- £800 (if restored), perhaps less.

I once bought a Mills Extraordinary for £400 then next day saw a console for it while I was collecting another machine for £200 and I didn't buy it. I've regretted it ever since.
I think that your machine might be a 1949 "Regal Console". I've included the original factory flyer for the model so you can see what the machine should look like. I'd love to know if your console has the pull out drinks tray. On close inspection, it definitely looks like a Regal Console :D
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regal2a.jpg
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