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In 1904, Mills Novelty Company was an exhibitor at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the 1904 St. At that time, the company was located at 125-127 West Randolph Street, Chicago. Cigar Vending Company to Mills Novelty Company, Incorporated. Mills, and the name of the company was changed from M.B.M. In 1898, Mortimer Mills sold a controlling interest in the company to his son, Herbert S. The machine was a great success and the company would later adopt an owl motif as its trade mark. The machine's design included a circle of owls perched on a lithographed tin wheel. In 1897, the company launched the Mills Owl, which was the first mechanical upright cabinet slot machine. Mills's patented 1891 contribution to cigar vending Over half a century later, the company would promote itself as having been founded in 1889, two years before the date of the patent, and by H.S. Cigar Vending Company sometime between 1891, and 1895. Focusing on the devices covered by the patent, Mortimer Mills founded the M.B.M. The improvement allowed the purchaser to select the product being sold and manipulate it so that it was carried to the point of delivery. Mortimer Mills was granted United States patent 450,336 on 14 April 1891 for an improvement in "coin-actuated vending apparatus". Mills, Herbert's first son, taking over as president while his three brothers, Ralph, Herbert, and Hayden held other top management positions. In 1929, Herbert Mills had died aged 57, leaving a fortune to his wife and eight children. The Mills brothers were raised in Oak Park, Illinois, and continued to live in that area until at least the mid-1930s. His younger brother, Hayden ("Bill") Mills, was born two years later in about 1902. In about 1900, Herbert Mills, the third son of Herbert Stephen Mills was born. Mills, Herbert's second son, was born in July 1898. Mills, the first of Herbert Mills' sons, was born. Mills, the youngest of Mortimer Mill's children was born. One son, Herbert Stephen Mills, was born in 1872 when his father was about 27. If you have a basket case I can take care of that as well.īelow are a few more examples of my work.The origins of the business lie with Mortimer Birdsul Mills, who was born in 1845 in Canada West (today's Ontario, Canada) but who later became a citizen of the United States, resident in Chicago, Illinois. If you have a machine that works good but is simply faded and ugly I can do a cosmetic restoration including wood, polish and paint. If you have a vintage machine that is tired but looks good I can restore it mechanically. If you have a vintage mechanical machine that is not working I can repair it for you. I don't have a whole crew of people working here, I am just a hard working guy who loves what I do.Īlong with buying and selling machines I offer restoration and repair. I get asked all the time if I watch American Pickers, Pawn Stars, American Restorations and the rest of the "reality shows" and of course I do I actually participated in a local show, Hardcore Pawn, and when doing so I really found out how these shows are "made for TV" and they do make great television and these guys are all now super stars but honestly what I do here at my little shop out in the country is the real deal. We will send you a shipping drum with all of the packaging, you simply pack it and we'll have it picked up. We make it easy for you to ship your machine to us. What coin does it take? (nickel, dime, etc.) When you call or e-mail please provide the following information: Most of the slot machines from the 1890's to 1940's were made by only a few manufacturers: Jennings, Mills, Pace, Watling, Caille and Superior. They were metal and wood, not electronic. How can you tell if your machine is pre-1951? Slots made before 1951 did not have lighted or plastic fronts, except for the Jennings Sun Chief models.
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We are interested in your single slot machine or an entire collection. Since you found our website it means you've done your homework. We also spend a lot of time RESTORING machines for collectors and clients who have a sentimental attachment to an antique slot machine.ĭo you have an old slot machine you'd like to SELL? If you are serious about selling please e-mail us or call 734.475.9730 with a description of your pre-1950's machine. If you are looking for a fair deal to BUY an antique slot machine, you have come to the right place. However, I have been selling them before I can list them on this website. If you are looking for a particular machine please ask as machines have been coming in.