Boland Black Beauty, Screen Stars, Brooklands, White City...

[treefrog]

There is another one state side, although this is on 25c. This may have been achieved by using a Sega mechanism and I had always assumed most of these conversions were based on revamping older 10 stop Poinsettia type mechanisms. This is a nice looking machine and has been modified the way I believe Bolands should have done them with a nice oak cabinet. The one thing that has always put me off these Boland type slots is the style of the castings are not in keeping with the cheap Formica look. I know others did reuse existing cabinets, even sometimes adding wood sections to match the front casting. Don't get me wrong Formica on the right style machine looks great if it is in the 50s/60s period. This one would look great anywhere - bit on the expensive side though.

BLACK BEAUTY

[special when lit]

Topic merged - Site Admin.

Always thought these were re-vamped Hi-Tops made by Bolands in England, but I've just seen this on Ebay USA.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... SS:GB:1123

[coin-op]

I'd agree that it's a Bollands machine. If you look at the Mills output of machines, there is no way that the standards of this cabinet match that of Mills.... it has all the hallmarks of an Englishman in a shed (and I mean that in a nice way - honest!). But talk the talk and many will swallow it hook, line and sinker... and such is ebay, sometimes....and definitely, I suspect, on this occasion.

[gameswat]

I just wrote to this seller to ask what proof he was basing his "Mills" claim on as he's the first person I've ever seen do so. His reply "I'll do some research and will get back to you." Usually done the other way around though, research and then make your claims!!

[pennymachines]

You hit the nail on the head there Gameswat!
He makes a very specific claim:

Mills manufactured these machines for overseas markets in Chicago beginning in 1940 for about a year. In this case it was made for export to the UK, and accepted the 1d (English penny).

The output of the Mills Novelty Co. from 1940-41 is quite well documented and has been studied by several historians of the industry, so it will be interesting to hear what grounds he had for saying this. It will be more interesting to see if he withdraws the claim after admitting he had none. No doubt his eccentric "appraiser", who valued the restored machine at $3000, was to blame.

Coin-op: you're talking Bollands... when you should be talking Tom Boland.

[gameswat]

You were dead on PM! Another reply from the seller today:
I got the information from Don Creekmore of Nation's Attic, who did the formal appraisal on the slot machine. A quote from his appraisal includes, "This machine call The Film Stars, was made in 1940 in the Mills Chicago, IL factory. Being introduced in 1940, its production time was halted due to the United States entry into World War 2. This machine was produced for approximately one year and was made for the overseas markets. It has also been called Film Stars as well." You can go to that site at http://www.nationsattic.com.

[coin-op]

Coin-op: you're talking Bollands... when you should be talking Tom Boland.

So I made one L of a mistake there

[treefrog]

If you search Bollands on this forum (or Bolands, I never can remember the right spelling) you will get lots of info, as this is a Mills conversion by them. The mechanism should be a standard Mills item, either the older 30s type or later Mill Top version.

If you have access to the Arena, the last auction posted there at Fieldings will show 2 that sold in the summer, between 150-180....pictures below (I will probably be told off for posting these, if you are not registered to the Arena, you should as it is a good reference as you see).

Yours appears to be missing a few things from the picture, e.g. the top flash, award, ashtray type coin-tray... May be difficult to replace unless you find a breaker or someone on here may help...

There you gooopp

[raj]

A nice paint job will transform this bandit, esp if the wood sides are still good. Henry Powell may be able to supply a payout surround casting for the front from his stock of bits. I would not bother with the top flash. I would value it around £350 once completed to a good standard.

[pennymachines]

A couple of wooden-cased Boland single reelers:

[coppinpr]

Very nice 'Screen Snapshots' version on ebay this week,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 720wt_1396

[iceman]

Topic moved & merged - Site Admin.

Saw this on craigslist, thought I would share. I've never seen one like it - but that's not surprising considering my limited knowledge of slots, especially English machines. The wooden cabinet looks especially nice.

Here is the link: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/a ... 27170.html

[andydotp]

G'day iceman,
That's a British revamp and one of a series by Tom Boland from Leeds around the early 1950's. He used to take (mostly) Mills gooseneck mechs and re-case them as Totalisators, Screen Stars, Your Favourites etc often with motor car or greyhound racing themes.
You've found a rather nice example, well done.
Cheers,
andydotp

[iceman]

Hello andydotp,

Thanks for the information. Looking at the photo I could see the "Your" part but I couldn't make out the spelling of "Favourites". Obviously you cleared that up for me. Such a wealth of knowledge around here.

[badpenny]

They look super when really cared for.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the cases were made from very poor wood with the thinnest of veneers applied.
I've never owned one but seen a couple or three for sale (one of which was stored in an open ended garage) they all looked like day old pizza.

I wonder how many survived intact? On occasion, at specialist auctions you stumble across the front and top castings which suggests those that didn't.
Now I think about it I've got a set myself somewhere.
Thanks for posting the picture it's a belter.

Jeremy

Edited once upon a time because I've just remembered I might also have one of his Film Star conversions which was a single reeler sporting the names of contemporary screen gods and goddesses. This is a metal front case.

[andydotp]

Quite correct Jeremy, his 'screen stars' fronts are cast aluminium.
( I 'appen to have one but can't find a pic )
a.p

[treefrog]

Nice looking machine.....

If you use the Search function at the top of the page and search White City you will see a number of links talking about Boland machines and showing a few of the variations, both 3 reeler and single reeler: (Now merged above - Site Admin).

BP is right about it being rare to see the veneer intact, I am unsure if the curved surfaces don't help, but it is a fragile material for a bandit which do get a lot of abuse. Your machine could of course had the effort put in to replace this, not the easiest of jobs.

[coppinpr]

Not all the stars were metal fronts. I have one with almost the same case as the favorites shown above. The single reelers are very dark and it's hard to see the reel. I put a light in mine - looks great. The case wood is fine and mine has metal edging. No payout card, as the winning lines on the reel strips have the winning amount written on them.