1932 Mills Gooseneck Skyscraper Slot Machine

cyberborikua

cyberborikua

Sr. Member
Apr 11, 2011
297
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Chicago
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Discovered recently in a yard sale. This incredible survivor was abandoned and left behind after a house sale. The new owner found it in the basement and gave it to his kids to play with. The kids did not like it because it did not work. So the yard sale was the perfect way to get rid of the machine and got some money out of it. Well, I paid $120 for it and my friends from C & A Restorations could not believe what I got it for:hello2:. They said that just the back door cost that much! They made it work again (it only had a dime stuck in the mechanism) and offered me $200 for it along with one other restored slot machine they had for sale. Of course I turned down the offer for my Mills is rare and all original :headbang: Most of these skyscrapers found online are five-cent machines but mine is a 10-cent, which made it more valuable. Restoration will cost a little, but once finished it will be worth $2400 :tongue3: :laughing7:
Another gem in my collection of slot machines :rosette:
 

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Saw American Restorations do a couple. They cost a bit, but the value went way up. You really have a prize there. A great treasure find...
 

austin said:
Saw American Restorations do a couple. They cost a bit, but the value went way up. You really have a prize there. A great treasure find...
Click to expand...

Thanks! Rick sometimes overcharge his work, but it is elegant to say the least. My restorers will also install an optional candy side vendor that goes attached to the slot machine and that they acquired years ago. The side vendor is the reason they offered me money and another machine for mine. They bought the vendor but never found the accompanying machine (that is one like mine). They really went crazy with the Mills!
 

WAS THE DIME SILVER? NICE SLOT MACHINE
 

I forgot to mention something. I believe your machine is also Art Deco, highly prized and highly collectable.
 

austin said:
I forgot to mention something. I believe your machine is also Art Deco, highly prized and highly collectable.
Click to expand...

Yes it is Art Deco and C&A Slots will restore it to its original glory. I must wait until next summer though because they are booked until then.
 

diggummup said:
Shows you what I know, I thought it was a slot machine. :dontknow:
Click to expand...

Trade stimulators were counter-top machines created to stimulate trade. You saw them in saloons, general stores, bakeries, etc., usually next to the cash register. Yours probably dispensed some kind of good like candy or gum every time a coin was inserted. Winning combinations yielded better prizes like cigarettes, beer, sweets, etc. These great machines played an important role in stimulating commerce and they were abundant during the depression era. I own three of those. Does yours work? I can't barely appreciate the brand name. Got more pics?
 

It's a Columbia cigarette wheel. I have it in storage at the moment but I can get more pics if you want them. I haven't been able to find any 25 cent machines with the diagonal lines on it like mine, only 5 cent ones. I'm guessing 1940's because it's a quarter machine versus a nickel or dime? It didn't work when I got it, then I got the quarter to roll through and it worked for a short time, stopped working again. I contacted C&A after reading your post and he offered me some helpful advice. First thing I need to do is get it re-keyed or a new lock put on it, because I can't get in it to take a look. Another project that will take forever to get to. Got it for $80 at a garage sale.
 

cyberborikua said:
Discovered recently in a yard sale. This incredible survivor was abandoned and left behind after a house sale. The new owner found it in the basement and gave it to his kids to play with. The kids did not like it because it did not work. So the yard sale was the perfect way to get rid of the machine and got some money out of it. Well, I paid $120 for it and my friends from C & A Restorations could not believe what I got it for:hello2:. They said that just the back door cost that much! They made it work again (it only had a dime stuck in the mechanism) and offered me $200 for it along with one other restored slot machine they had for sale. Of course I turned down the offer for my Mills is rare and all original :headbang: Most of these skyscrapers found online are five-cent machines but mine is a 10-cent, which made it more valuable. Restoration will cost a little, but once finished it will be worth $2400 :tongue3: :laughing7:
Another gem in my collection of slot machines :rosette:
Click to expand...
CHECK THE DIME IT MIGHT BE SILVER!!!!
 

cooper36 said:
CHECK THE DIME IT MIGHT BE SILVER!!!!
Click to expand...

This machine was probably played until a dime got stuck in the mechanism and the previous owner deemed it broken and unusable. Repairing these machines can be expensive, especially if you are mailing it out. Slot machines are super heavy and just shipping it back and forth would cost a lot for starters. I'm lucky that C&A slots is close to me and I can bring my machines to them myself, thus saving a ton of money. No silver coins at all :unhappysmiley:
 

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