Mills Hi Top Projects

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pauljt71
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Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

So the collection of “bits” has all arrived. I hope to build 3 machines from the various parts. The black beauty seems to be a front on a wooden case. I am missing a back bonnet for one of the Mills Hi Tops. Does anyone out there have one or know where I can obtain a repro please? Lots of work ahead.....
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brigham
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by brigham »

A Boland's Black Beauty! Nice find.
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coppinpr
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by coppinpr »

you have a great opportunity here, If it was me Id start with the Tom Boland machine as they are so variable and respond so well to restoration, the wood case could be normal,if there is such a thing as a "normal" Boland machine (take a look here https://www.penny-arcade.info/the-tom-boland-collection to see several Black Beauty machines how they can vary in original style and what can be achieved with them), then the Jewel hi-top, I cant remember if the rear bonnet from the later hi-top will fit the Jewel but if it does looting the newer hi-top of at least the bonnet and the dagger handle will go a long way to making the Jewel complete.What did you get from the mech of the newer hi-top,cant quite see from the photo but looks like just the frame. I think the yellow machine was the subject of a thread on the forum recently...did the boys in the know think it too might be Boland? I cant remember
pauljt71
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

It’s quite difficult to know what goes with what. The Black Beauty is an empty cabinet with loose reels in a carrier bag. I assume that any of the Mills mechanisms will fit inside this?

If anyone knows anything about the yellow machine that would be interesting. Again there is a mechanism inside it, but at this stage I don’t know which mechanisms go with which cases.

I will drag everything out and take photos of the lot. Hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction. Sadly not all the mechanisms are complete as some have missing coin and payout tubes.

Is there such a thing as a dealer/collector that buys and sells spare parts. This would be very useful.
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treefrog
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by treefrog »

I am sure the mods will advise you of spares requests, but Hi Top hoods are not all interchangeable, there are many variances. I don’t have part numbers in front of me, but you need to have the correct part number code and to ensure any you buy are original, most that come to market are repros.......

The yellow machine has been discussed before and often has various car badges on, like Cresta and Princess. Although not confirmed maybe attributed to one of the Mills converters Boland or Firman. I wonder if the mechanism in your first Hi Top came from this machine as they seem to have that type of BAR symbol style on reel strips. Also the mechanism in picture below that was in the yellow machine, probably belongs to the Black Beauty as looks like Bolands strips...I have highlighted, but of course could be completely wrong...

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7141&hilit=Cresta


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pauljt71
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

coppinpr wrote: Thu Jan 02, 2020 9:46 am then the Jewel hi-top, I cant remember if the rear bonnet from the later hi-top will fit the Jewel but if it does looting the newer hi-top of at least the bonnet and the dagger handle will go a long way to making the Jewel complete.What did you get from the mech of the newer hi-top,cant quite see from the photo but looks like just the frame. I think the yellow machine was the subject of a thread on the forum recently...did the boys in the know think it too might be Boland? I cant remember
Handle now swapped and bonnet attached. Just need to get a back for this now. 😀
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pauljt71
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

Here are some more pictures of the black beauty case and the mechs I have. Some are incomplete.
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coppinpr
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by coppinpr »

of course hard to say from just photos but Im thinking the mech frame with no reels might prove in better condition than the ten stop with 20 stop reel strips,although,in the photo the reel bundle looks a little bent.If you do change them ove dont forget to move the slides as well. The Jewel is beginning to look the part already !THUMBS!
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

So I have realised why the mech is not paying out. It appears that when a winning line is selected the fingers are not going into the holes on the wheel as they are not fully lined up.

How do I adjust the reels on the spindle so that the payout holes line up?

I have not attempted to take a reel bundle apart yet so any help or step guide would be appreciated.
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coppinpr
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by coppinpr »

Surprisingly this is one of the more awkward jobs. You would think it's a two min job, but,most likely, it's not.
First we need to know what the problem is, as it could be several different things.

Are you saying the fingers don't enter the pay discs because they are very slightly out of line and catch the edges of the holes? Or
are you saying on a winner the fingers come down on a covered area and not a hole?
Are the reel strips lining up squarely in the pay window? Of course the strips are irrelevant, they only show the result and have no control over the payout, but if they are not square in the window it could indicate that more important parts are slightly out of line.

If say, the payout window shows three oranges but the fingers are falling on a covered part of the payout disc, then it's most likely the reel strips are in the wrong position, they are the wrong reel strips, or they are on the wrong reels.

If the fingers are just failing to enter the holes by a fraction, an adjustment can be made but it's not always just a matter of moving the reels. The point at which the reel bundle locks in place is governed by the large cog wheel with ten stops to the left of the payout discs (when viewed from the rear). If this, or the locking bar that falls into it at the end of a cycle, are worn or out of line, the discs will stop slightly out of line. However, it could simply be the reel stops that fall into place stopping each reel in turn. These each have a square free moving stub at the top that engages with the reel's star wheel. If either of these are worn, the reel stops in just the wrong place. These reel stops are controlled by the clock, and a slight adjustment to the arm the clock uses to time the reel stops might be all that needed.
Easy! :dammit:

Once we know what the actual problem is we can move on to deal with it.
pauljt71
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

I think it’s a mixture of the timing out and incorrect reel labels. Misalignment and the fingers do not go into the holes correctly. I have put this one aside while I work on another machine now.

Today I learned the importance of the coin tube push lever overflow spring! Couldn’t understand why the machine was constantly jamming before discovering the overflow leave a spring was missing.

I installed a mech into the yellow cabinet machine today. It seems quite an early mech as the timing bar is different from the others. Pics attached.
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coppinpr
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by coppinpr »

That clock needs lightly oiling. Better still, if you can remove it and totally dismantle it. Could go another 50 years if you treat it well. :D
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

I have learnt so much about these machines since purchasing them. Thank you to everyone on the forum for all of the help.
Today I have been cleaning and removing one of the clocks. I think I’ve just about cracked it now. Managed to make three good machines from the five broken ones. Need lots of bits though to make up the Boland machine. Anyone know of a good resource to acquire a hightop bonnet?
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coppinpr
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by coppinpr »

Well done, so pleased you have become a keen slotty... The rest of your family might not be so pleased. ^{}^
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

So, seeing as I have lots of time on my hands right now........today I stripped and started to repaint the Jewel Hi Top.

I have found some great paint online that matches the red almost perfectly. I wiped the original crinkle paint down with white spirit and then have sprayed a couple of light coats of the new paint straight on top. It seems to be drying well and the original crinkle finish is showing through nicely.

Satin black over the oak on the lower sections with the red to go on tomorrow. I found an original paper label with cabinet number that matches the one stamped into the wood.
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badpenny
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by badpenny »

pauljt71 wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2020 7:43 pm ...... I have been cleaning and removing one of the clocks. I think I’ve just about cracked it now ......
What size hammer were you cleaning it with?

BP !PUNISH!
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by coppinpr »

You must be more careful when posting on threads BP reads, he will pull you up on every little mistake and play on words... It's his only bit of fun these days... We pretend not to notice. buttkick
pauljt71
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

It was a left handed Whitworth :HaHa:

The sun was out first thing so got some more paint on :D
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by pauljt71 »

All finished and very happy with the results. I may look for a blue and paint these areas too if I can find a match.
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badpenny
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Re: Mills Hi Top Projects

Post by badpenny »

That's looking really good Paul, compared especially to when I saw it a few weeks back.
Why do you need to match the blue up? Just find one you like.

BP :cool:
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