Antique Slot Machine Restoration and Repair Mills Bursting Cherry

1945 Mills Black Cherry

This machine is a great example of one that had been sitting in a barn for decades. While it was all original, it had been used hard, was missing pieces, had holes in the castings and wood cabinet. However, it is a special machine to the owners and they wanted it restored to its factory original brilliance.

The following two pages show the before and after transformation of this beautiful machine. If you have a slot machine in need of repair or restoration please contact Don Creekmore - owner of the Nations Attic at 316-371-1828 or slots@nationsattic.com

As shown in the first photo above (left), this machine was in rough shape when it came in. After sitting in a barn for years the paint was faded, the wood chipped and pealing paint. All the glass was beyond saving as well.
While the machine seems to be well beyond saving, it's not. The photo on the left shows what a professional restoration can do for a classic like this.

Every machine that comes in for restoration is totally taken apart. A proper restoration can not be preformed if the castings or oak cabinet are not dissembled. By taking the time to do this, every detail in the wood and metal are scrutinized.
Other details such as using new cabinet bolts, chrome platting the handle and coin entry, buffing the exposed castings and brass and painting in great detail gave this machine the look it deserves.

Not only do the castings get the first class treatment, but the oak cabinet does as well. The cabinet is refinished and new factory correct cabinet bolts are used. Even a duplicate of the Mills decal is put back on both sides. You will notice this machine had notches out of both sides of the base. Even major blemishes, such has large holes in wood or metal are repaired.
Many machines, like this one, have beautiful wood cabinets. Due to neglect, bad paint or simply decades of use, the wood looses much of its beauty. With proper restoration techniques the cabinet can be brought to its former glory!

$C:\Documents and Settings\Don Creekmore\My Documents\My Webs\vintage.html$ Sometimes machines are missing major parts. This machine was missing the back door, bonnet and cash box. While finding original parts is not easy, it is something that we do. To insure the machine is given back to you just like it left the Chicago factory, using original factory correct parts is very important.