King (Beromat Type) restore

[coppinpr]

I agree, not really for me either, but I learned so much from doing this re-build. Final touches done, so all finished (you won't have to look at it again). Anyone want to buy a cheap bandit

[speedwell]

Well, as always coppinger has done a brilliant job of restoration. Also, I may be in a minority but I like the machine with its unusual design and the bold colours and motif.

[speedwell]

Whoops. Not even at drinks time. I meant of course coppinpr.

[coppinpr]

To my complete amazement the King sold on Ebay yesterday for a staggering £285.

[badpenny]

I think most of us were watching it Paul, well done it looked really smart.

[coppinpr]

I think most of us were watching it

So I assumed. I don't think I've ever sold an item with 900 views and 90 watchers before.

[treefrog]

Well done Paul, hope you removed the B&Q barcode from the inside, although it would confuse someone in years to come.

[aristomatic]

Good to see that you have given new lease of life to another machine. The way prices have been on eBay recently, I was a little surprised that it didn't realise more than £285, as fully working, new paint & tidy machine.

GP

[ddstoys]

Well worth saving and you did a great job.

[coppinpr]

Well, you can expect to see this chap on ebay again soon. I made the mistake of showing my collection to the nice middle aged couple who won the Ebay auction. It was their first machine. One week later they have asked me if I could part exchange it for a much more expensive machine they saw when they visited me. What could I say?

[arrgee]

What could I say

NO, the Bumper or Coronet is not for sale!!

[coppinpr]

It's a Jubilee they have asked for. I nearly put it in the Coventry sale so I guess it was the right time to let it go.

Has an interesting history. Started life on 6d in the UK, went to France when we got rid of the old coins and had a new life on old French coins in a cafe till they went Euro, then found its way back to the UK as a collectors item. When I finally got it I found several hundred 6d coins under the payout tray, all of which had crossed the channel twice without anyone knowing they were there.

[malcymal]

I have the same Silver Jubilee Mk1 machine too, my first machine ever bought actually. Only have a dozen sixpences. I took off the cash tray and found over a hundred, lots of pre 1945 silver ones too. It still sits in the dining room and gets lots of admiring comments and people love playing it. In the time I've had it, only hit the jackpot once.

[coppinpr]

So, as I'm sure you all saw this machine went back on ebay and reached a staggering £381, I must admit I find it a bit embarassing as I don't feel any machine of this type is worth that much. Any machine with the old German mech in is a poor play in my view, a soft lazy feel to the game with halfhearted payouts, but who am I to say?

[malcymal]

But you put the work in and I think it looks great. If these machines had to be made again, they would cost a fortune. I think the question of value needs to be put aside, you pay for what moves you and what you think will look good in your home. There's a sparkly Jennings on Ebay at the moment at a whopping 1600 quid and I know that's a book price, but personally it doesn't move me, so not worth that much to me at all.