ROY missed one.......

[roger]

In the early days of collecting coin-ops we all looked forward to Roy Arington's auctions in Las Vegas, Nevada. How many members recall the luxurious hotels, fabulous shows, great dining, trading machines, let alone the auctions themselves. I was cruising the town at one of these events when I found the attached machine in a junk/antique store. Unbelievably, Roy missed this gem right under his nose in his own home town.

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The machine featured a Disney character (Pluto) which let out a squeak when it dispensed a piece of gum. It is very cute and rather unique with the noise feature... Years later I found another with Mickey Mouse.

Ironically, I found this picture in a stack of photos I had taken on a QE2 voyage. I AM GUESSING THAT THIS MACHINE WILL STUMP THE EXPERTS. Regardless, I would appreciate hearing from all members viewing this machine and their guess as to what price one of these would realize in today's coin-op market. DISNEY collectors will likely drool over this machine.

[roger]

I just received an e-mail from an old-time collector alerting me to the fact that the "Disney" machines are illegal as they were never sanctioned by the Disney Corp. At my age, that's all I need is 10 years in the slammer. ROGER

[gameswat]

Roger, but didn't the figure move around as well as the sound? That's what it says in the Silent Salesman book. I assumed it was one of those celluloid toys that have strung joints and when you push the base it allows the joints to articulate? Great creative idea, though that very basic cabinet lets it down I think. The book dates it at 1941, so designed just before the US entered the war. The 1995 price guide in the book says $1500 and I bet you didn't pay anything like that for either of them!

[pennymachines]

Silent Salesmen Too

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Bussoz's Girouette also took Mickey's image in vain.

[roger]

..

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............My Chick-O-Berry machine has received some interest but not in Pennymachine postings... I have had calls and e-mails from collectors I have not heard from in several years. Apparently, they read the Forum but are just too shy to communicate via Pennymachines.

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One collector has the Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck versions and is chafing at the bit to get a Pluto. Another old coin-opper had never even heard of the machine and is prepared to shell out big bucks for one. Gamestop, himself, a foremost authority, has not viewed the machine... I agree with him that the case should be sent back to the drawing board. He indicated that a price guide dated 1995 priced this machine at $1500.00. It would be interesting to see what one would command in today's market. Another "Wale" Disney collector e-mailed me and it sounds like he could be talking telephone numbers.
Funny, but I did not see this much interest when I sold mine. The internet changed everything. One high-end collector I know expressed indignation that he had to pay top dollar to acquire his collection. I explained to him that dealers sought him out because of his wale status and not because of his good looks.
ROGER

[gameswat]

Gamestop, himself, a foremost authority, has not viewed the machine...

Rougar, I certainly don't consider myself an authority on anything, just very experienced and interested in some areas, and certainly not vending. I've only ever owned a small number of vending machines in my time, maybe 20 or so and most of those were Australian. I was lucky enough to see quite a few higher end US vendors and other machines across the US in private collections and at Chicagoland. But when it comes down to it 98% of vendors are one trick ponies compared to the fun and repeated playability of arcade games.....stop

[roger]

Gameswat responded that he does not consider himself an expert in vending machines . However, he is certainly an expert in penny arcade machines and their restoration. All of which leads me to ask a question that has plagued me for many years. I discovered many basket cases in my early years of collecting. Some passed thru my hands at $300.00 and subsequently sold in the $30,000.00 range. I felt they were misrepresented by the omission of facts in the auction world.

I have also seen complete REPRODUCTIONS passed off as genuine antiques. Worse yet, are those RESTORATIONS that use fake parts that have no resemblance to those used in the original machine.

Perhaps Gameswat will comment on these issues and what he does to restore a machine yet maintain its historical integrity.
ROGER

[gameswat]

Roger you seem shocked that shenanigans go on and always have. You seem to forget the old coin-op operators were closely related to the showmans' world - Carnies! I've seen and heard all kinds of craziness that went on to rip punters off, and later collectors. Thankfully being in the industry ourselves left us immune. There's a huge benefit to being a collector with very little cash, hence not being able to bid on, or buy anything restored or in fine condition. So consequently I've never purchased any of the nefarious bullshit you mention.

I'm particular about every detail being as close as possible to correct, so it makes much more sense to buy unrestored machines and do the work to my own standard. That's really why I taught myself restoration in the first place. I've rarely auctioned machines because I'm happy to sell them straight to collectors and tell them exactly what was involved in the work. And the same buyers are constantly wanting more pieces, so something is right.

It's accepted that machines had a hard life and rarely turn up without needing attention. The coin-op trade is no different to any other industry on earth with good and bad players. I've seen the work of a big name US restorer that was shockingly terrible multiple times, but also work of a dozen others that was very nice, and a couple that were staggeringly amazing! It doesn't take long to figure out who you want to deal with, the ones who do the job for love not money.

I've only discovered two and a half outright fakes while working for the millionaire collectors and was shown another by a friend. I'm sure it happens more than occasionally, but collectors don't like to advertise their mistakes. And as for poorly restored machines selling for high prices, well that's just the ignorance of the buyer - a fool and his money are easily parted. Happens every day in a million different ways that people make poor decisions, though maybe slightly more pronounced in the collecting world, as I have seen buyers get overly excited about a rarity and their eyes must've glazed over to cause fuzzy vision, because when they bring their treasure to me to be fettled it's amazing the obviously serious issues they've totally ignored!? That's when I get to say, "You expect me to make this pig's ear into a silk what?". Except if they're a good friend and I do take the job on.....

[roger]

Hi. Gameswat.... thank you for your informative post on the repair of Penny Arcade Machines.
The "wales" would do well by hiring you as a consultant before they get taken to the cleaners.
Some time ago a machine was sold at auction for $35,000 despite the disclosure by the owner that he had created this machine solely from looking at an old catalogue picture. ROGER

[gameswat]

Roger, I think you'd have dropped dead decades ago of a heart attack if you'd been involved in the art or car collecting world! They make the coin-op rogues seem like tadpoles compared to great whites. Many of the stunning autos shown at Pebble Beach each year have been built from just a rusty chassis and engine block, sometimes all from scratch, and those can sell in the multiple millions. I guess when it comes down to it there a re a lot of people that don't have the time or skills to invest in building the stuff themselves so they're happy to pay up for the privilege to own the work of others.

You like to disparage those selling high at auction for what you consider is worth much less, but auction prices are odd because the seller doesn't dictate the eventual sum the last two bidders will run to, unless there's shill bidding of course. Every auction I've ever attended always had at least a few pieces that went crazy for who knows why? And of course, unless you know the buyer, who knows what the reasoning was? Did an object belong to the bidder's family once upon a time and sentimental? I know people have thought I was crazy for some of the basket case rusty piles I've bid on, but they didn't know what I did about the rarity or have my ability to sort them out.

You asked about restoration thoughts before. I think the best work should be invisible and I've always striven to leave no footprints in my wake, which is much easier said than done. I also try to choose my battles by leaving as much alone as possible if it's a fine line of what to do or how to do it. I'll always choose to leave it be and live with the piece and let it percolate. I can restore the issue later, but can never undo. And hardly ever do I go back and do those jobs later on. Far too many major projects still left to do and I've only purchased a handful of machines the last decade.