New member | Berkeley bandit TLC

[coppinpr]

Looks like you have a small job in your retirement Paul, although to make worthwhile e.g. petrol and time would expect a reasonable fee would be required.

It's something I've done for some years, only about 5 or 6 per year. As I enjoy doing it I don't charge much actually.

[slotsoffun]

...rumours of my demise are greatly exaggerated...lol

Apologies to those who have been trying to contact Slot Machine Depot, but as some of you are aware for the past 9 months I've been busy restoring several slots for a private collector, wish I could say which machines as they were all pre-1930s and very rare. I've also been busy working alongside a couple of production companies for future TV projects, but you didn't hear that from me!!! wink wink!

I will be back working on the slots, allwins and jukeboxes in February.
Thank you for your patience.

[coppinpr]

Your forum name "Slotoffun" always takes me back a good 45 years.

I worked in two arcades called "Slotsofun" (just the one f) in the '70s, one in Tooting and one in Soho. Both are still there, but the old name has gone along with the 20 + electro mechanical pinballs at Tooting. I bought most of those pinballs when they were cleared, including two wooden side rails "Gusher" (1956) and "Royal Flush"(1957). Every time I see your forum name I curse myself for selling those two machines. The 57 Royal flush is ranked as one of the most sought after pinballs. Its already high value was increased when it cropped up in the movie "Lethal Weapon 3" and the artwork on the Gusher is collectible on its own.

[treefrog]

Wonder if this arcade sign below was related

[iceollie]

Mark would you be able to fit me in as one of your first clients in feb please then? It’s been since around September since we first touched base... I don’t know where else to turn,

Thanks

Oliver

[slotsoffun]

Re Slots of Fun. I actually chose the name from a casino on the Vegas strip of the same name. As for the sign treefrog I think I did try and bid on that or one like it at EH.. Bah! I got out bid!!!

Contact me thru email re repair.

[brigham]

Hello iceollie,
Welcome to the Forum that Knows!
I have a Sega Berkeley, but it isn't as impressive as yours. It's just plain red, with no top-box.
Apart from the decimal conversion, do you think yours is original?

[coppinpr]

I'm sure someone will correct me (they usually do) but I don't think these were made by Sega. They use Sega mechs but are one of the many clones from the same period. The photo is too dark to see for sure but I don't think the case has the Sega logo cast into it on the front.

[treefrog]

Looks good to me, I have lots of spare glasses including Berkeley and this looks right.

By the way Oliver, I assume you decided not to take up Paul’s generous offer to sort your machine. If it were me, this would be just a service, not a restore, as the look and paint looks good, so half a days effort I suspect.

[brigham]

A good few of my SEGAs don't have the 'Sega' script cast into the front panel.
Can anyone confirm that they are by a different maker?

[treefrog]

A good few of my SEGAs don't have the 'Sega' script cast into the front panel.
Can anyone confirm that they are by a different maker?

This topic has been discussed on this forum many times over the years. Having owned many of both types and discussion with Roger from Norfolk who has broken up and sold more than I have had eggs for breakfast, I believe they are not true from the factory Sega. Sega machines should all have correct serial numbers on a sticker on inside right and metal label on base rear (this often drops off). The cabinet parts are not all interchangeable although vary, like rear hoods, metal front cash trays and as Roger mentioned when he made the replacement jackpot glasses seen at auctions for a decade, they only fit proper Segas. Even the lighting set-up is different and the top light box. They may well have Sega parts like mechanisms and escalators.

[aristomatic]

This is one of the threads on pennymachines site but as I stated in my initial response there is a more substantial thread discussing these, but may be on a different forum: Mills or Sega - RENO Slot?

The purple machine in the thread was probably from same origin as yours as the vertical strips are the same polished flat material. The substantial other thread concurs with TF and others that all these non embossed Sega casting machines were built and supplied via a number of different sources during those "competitive" times.

[brigham]

As you may have guessed, I'm now looking for a RENO!

[treefrog]

There are sooooo many variations, Reno being just one, there are even Mills ones.

Interestingly, I believe there may have been a genuine early Mills version predating Sega. You will see one or two on old threads on this site with Mills on the belly and Mills top box artwork. I bought one 10 years ago and still have it, it is Mills all over with parts, MLB stamps and even has a dagger handle. May have been in the transition before Sega took over. Will need to dig it out at some point to get more info.

Would be interesting to catalogue and list all the variants. One of the issues with this site is it is difficult to find all related items and I know moderators try and merge threads, but typically they start off on another topic.....

From experience, Sega machines were much higher quality than most of the variants, some used terrible monkey metal on items like coin entries and escalator surrounds.

[iceollie]

Looks good to me, I have lots of spare glasses including Berkeley and this looks right.

By the way Oliver, I assume you decided not to take up Paul’s generous offer to sort your machine. If it were me, this would be just a service, not a restore, as the look and paint looks good, so half a days effort I suspect.

Hi,

If Paul is Coppinpr, I had a chat and the issue is getting it to his place to service.

I agree with you about just needing a service. I like it looking worn. The only things that I woudl like done from a restoration pov is there are lots of white specs of paint on it that need to be scraped off or wiped off with an appropriate liquid, the glass is cracked (but you said you have spare glass?), and also the white panel inside the glass has cracked a lot and hanging down a bit.

[iceollie]

Hello iceollie,
Welcome to the Forum that Knows!
I have a Sega Berkeley, but it isn't as impressive as yours. It's just plain red, with no top-box.
Apart from the decimal conversion, do you think yours is original?

Yes I love it! It was my grandfather's who gave it to me last year.. Its something I always played on when I was staying over at my grandparents as a child.

[brigham]

Looks good to me, I have lots of spare glasses including Berkeley and this looks right.

My Berkeley is now at the front of the queue. I'm basing the paint scheme on Iceollie's splendid example.
Mine has lost its top-box, although it has provision for one in the casting.
Do you have a top-box glass you could sell me for it? If not, can you do a scan of one, so I can have a go at making it up?

[treefrog]

I will have a look.

I might have top boxes as well, need to check.

[brigham]

I've got a padded envelope waiting to take used notes, as soon as you're ready.
I could take the whole top-box if you have it, otherwise just the glass will do.
Ta!

[treefrog]

Not been to my storage units yet, but will check when I get there.