Are these bandits any good?

[moonriver]

This whole thread is reminiscent of a certain American picker who likes to use this forum for valuation advice, disappears for a while, then pops up again and does the same again.
When you ask which is best, if you really don't know anything about machines then you should simply go for which one you like the look of the most and make sure it works.

[your-such-a-slot]

I like to own the best.
I don't want to have the best Ford Anglia in town, I want to have the best Lamb
so if I have the chance of buying guidance of which is a prize piece and which is an OK piece is what I am trying to find out.

These are not in the UK, they are all for sale and before I talk turkey on buying any it would have been nice to have an idea on what I'm buying.

I didn't want to go to him and negotiate on the biggest rust bucket he has.

That's all guys. I guess the answer will be if you like the rust bucket, who cares.

[treefrog]

Problem is we can’t answer that question as we can only see the fronts and have no idea on condition, operation or originality.... a risk you take if buying from a long way away.....

From what I see I suspect most are OK, but you would need to take into account the risk. Pick one you like and ask for many more pictures including of the mechanism and inside of casing.

[your-such-a-slot]

No, you can't see inside, but you could say, 'hey that green one on the right - if that was fully restored it would be a beast, the others are two a penny and I wouldn't bother with them'. I am none the wiser on the selection I have been offered. I am trying to learn.
I guess you're all having a good laugh.

Maybe the American Picker came and went because he was made to feel like a fool. I am starting to wish I had not mentioned it.

[treefrog]

The green machine does stand out and is a typical Vega casino type with the full face panel/facade often lit up. This says Las Vegas Club, which was a well known and one of the oldest casinos in Vegas started in 1930 and was pulled down last year.

Ask the seller if there is any history with the machine, condition and pictures... it looks nice.

[your-such-a-slot]

Thank you. I will start there. I will see what info I get sent over.

[moonriver]

The American picker is far too thick skinned to be bothered about what anyone else thinks about him.

[coppinpr]

I didn't think my long post above did anything else but try and help. Like one or two others, like TF, we tried to help. Seems one or two others have taken against you because they think, perhaps unfairly, you are not giving all the info you have, but that will happen on this forum... believe me... I know. Please don't think we are all having a go at you, we are not.

I think the problem is, and if indeed you are very new to collecting slots is understandable, you say openly you only want the best... There isn't a best, and the long standing collectors on the forum know that, so they are looking at this differently from you. There isn't even a "best of this lot" for we would, most likley, all disagree on our first choice. There isn't even a "most valuable". Sell this lot at auction one day and the same lot on another day with different buyers and prices would flip flop.

If what you're saying is you... let's say... want the most authentic Hi-top there, well it's impossible, unless you're there and give them all very close scrutiny. Some may well have the correct TYPE of mech inside but not many will have the mech that came with the machine when new. These were intentionally interchangeable during repair or service. They have all seen a lot of work over almost 50 years. Many may have started life as the pick of a Vegas casino and ended their working life at Joe's Diner just across the Nevada state line. Like Tom says, pick a couple you like the look of and ask for as many photos of the case and the mech (outside the case) as you can get.

[badpenny]

Before you start going down the road of assuming I am (or anybody else) is not friendly towards you I suggest you re-read this topic, count how many questions you have been asked in an attempt to help you. Then count how many times you didn't answer, that is very frustrating.
If you can't appreciate how difficult it is to help you, then try this .......

Which of these is any good, are there any I should avoid?

[clubconsoles]

Your-such-a-slot,
I'm afraid I agree with badpenny here. He is, after all, forum moderator. You ask many questions but chose to answer few. That is not a good start and will get peoples' backs up. You did not respond to my pm??? I would hazard a guess you have had many pm's which you have not answered!!! Help is a two way street. If you put in the work to endear yourself to the people you are asking for help, you do yourself a tremendous service.

My advice, for what it's worth!
Buy one you like for what you feel is a good price. Once you have your one, tell the others on here where they are and prices sought. You will not make any money on buying them and trying to sell them on at a profit. As they not in the UK they will attract Duty @ 20% as well as VAT and shipping and crating costs. There will be virtually no chance of you making any money on these so take what you want and let us collectors take a shot at the rest!!

[your-such-a-slot]

Why do you thin i want to make money on it ?

there is no secrets the machines are in the USA

I have not seen them i just wanted a bit of advice on what to ask


its not a problem guys
i have totally got the site wrong
it is for seasoned enthusiast that not willing to let newbies in
i miss judged it

all i wanted to do was to start my own collection
i will have to re look at do i even want to do this now
if i bought one and needed help not sure i could cope with the sarcasm
in asking for help

[john t peterson]

U-R slots. If you read back through the postings, you will find very good advice. The problem is you're asking for something that you do not adequately define. When you ask if the slot machines in the picture are any "good," what do you really want to know? Which ones you might like? Only you can decide that. Which ones are more valuable? That depends on too many factors to address, starting with the question of what the price being asked is. The community here at Pennymachines is extremely generous with their time and information. Much of what they dispense has been gained over decades of experience. If they appear a bit prickly, it tends to be when a newbie - that would be you - says, "Tell me everything you know but I'm not going to share what information I have that may be of interest to you." This is a community of mutual shared interest. If you truly want to be a part, start with giving the information you have as to where this collection is located and how to contact the seller. If you're not willing to be a partner in spirit and fact, then it might be in your best interest to move on to another group, or hobby.

J Peterson
A fellow Yank

[clubconsoles]

[coppinpr]

What a truly helpful and intelligent reply. No wonder this forum has a good name for helping people out... must be a definition of "true genius" I was previously unaware of.

[treefrog]

I think some of the posts have been removed so this thread does now seem a little different......hey ho

[pennymachines]

Apart from a message I put up for about a minute this morning and then deleted as non-constructive, nothing was removed by mods or OP as far as I'm aware...

[your-such-a-slot]

Guys thank for all you advice, the contact i have seems to have a lot of slots i will leave it to those who have the knowledge here are the last ones i was offered i told him there not for me. i was going to have crack but not now.

[treefrog]

I would buy in the U.K. if your based here, as having experienced shipping many times from the US, it adds massive cost and risk. The last machine some would say is worth going for, the Horsehead Bonus, not my cup of tea always looked odd in shape, but popular with others and sell in U.K. on average for around £1500....

[moonriver]

some people don't know when to go away when they say they are going to, the purpose of the latest set of photos posted being to prolong a thread which was exhausted long ago