Watling Cherry Front, Rol-A-Top, Rol-A-Tor or Bird of Paradise Restoration by Jenny Creekmore



Before & After Restoration Of a Classic 5c Watling Rol-A-Top Coin Front Slot Machine by Nations Attic 

I am always ecstatic to restore a Watling Cherry front, a Watling Rol-A-Top, a Watling Rol-A-Tor, or a Watling Bird of Paradise back to its original brilliance.  A lot of the Watling machines are no longer in good original condition.  When the antique slot machine is too far from being in original condition, I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to work on the machine. 

I have personally restored numerous Watling slot machines.  Once the castings are stripped of all the old paint and buffed to a high shine, the castings then need to be cleaned of all buffing material.  It truly is necessary to take your time in doing an excellent cleaning job, before any painting can occur. 

Close-Up Of Rare Cherry Front Rol-A-Top Before & After Restoration By Nations Attic

Back in the day, Watling used a paint that was iridescent or somewhat see through.  The castings need to be very clean and buffed to a high shine, for the iridescent paint to really reveal the beauty of the castings.  The Watling Cherry front would have had a red iridescent paint on the cherries, while the coins on a Watling Rol-A-Tor, Watling Rol-A-Top or Watling Bird of Paradise would have had a gold iridescent paint. 



Close-Up Of A Watling Rol-A-Top Bird of Paradise With Original Factory Gold Paint

We have the capability to reproduce both the red and gold iridescent paint.  We are proud to say that we specialize in factory correct restorations.  We strive to make the machines as perfect as they were when they left the factory back in time. 

Don teases me at times, because I want every machine to be as perfect as it possibly can be.  I almost obsess over each and every detail that goes into making a machine as perfect as possible.  I know that our customers treasure their machines and I treat them as I would treat my own machines.  I care for all of the machines that we ever handle and sometimes I begin to feel attached to them.  That is why he teases me!



Example Of A US Coin Front Rol-A-Top Lower Casting Before & After Detailed Restoration by Nations Attic

I really wish I could go back in time to speak with the people working in the Watling manufacturing facility.  I would want to speak with the designers, mechanics, wood workers, painters, hand painters, operators, sales team, marketing personnel and so forth.   

Often, we will get in a machine and the paint is not perfectly straight or a decal may have been slapped on the side of the wood in a crooked position.  Basically, the machine would show some kind of ‘rush’ action during the building of the machine.  It always makes me wonder why.  If only we could hear stories about these machines being built and the need to get them out as fast as possible. 

Don reminds me that when these machines were being manufactured they were a device to make money, not a family heirloom, family story or a collectible.  Yes, that does put things into perspective.

However, I do know how to properly restore a Watling machine.  Once the iridescent paint is on the castings, I hand paint everything else.  This is important, because when a casting has been buffed to a high shine, sometimes it is difficult for paint to adhere.  Plus, they hand painted the machines back in the day!  I have my method down (which is a secret) and I take lots and lots of time carefully hand painting.  It is crucial to take your time to have straight lines and NO brush strokes. 



The Oak Cabinet, Back Bonnet and Other Parts Get The Same First Classic Treatment As The Front On This Rol-A-Top

I also have my secrets on properly finishing the wood cabinet.  You definitely cannot rush!

At this time, Don and I do not own a Watling Cherry front, Watling Rol-A-Tor, Watling Rol-A-Top or Watling Bird of Paradise in our personal collection.  I truly would love to own one of these wonderful machines.  If you happen to have one, I am definitely a buyer.  Or if you have a machine that needs to be restored or repaired, I am more than happy to send you some photos of the work we have completed on some other machines.    

Oh, and if you or anyone in your family worked for the Watling company, we would be beyond thrilled to hear your stories and see any photos you might have available! Please call us at 316-371-1828 or email slots@nationsattic.com

Also, please click on any of the photos in this blog to view the photos in more detail.

Thank you!

O.D. Jennings Dixie Bell by Jenny Creekmore

O.D. Jennings Dixie Bell Restored By Nations Attic

Love it!

Don and I had the privilege to restore an O.D.  Jennings Dixie Bell for the nicest lady.   Yes, it was the first time I had ever seen one in person and of course I instantly fell in love with the machine. 

Oh dear…it is indeed another instance where I would just be thrilled to add a Dixie Bell to our personal collection.  Both Don and I truly are honored to work on such wonderful pieces of Americana.  The problem is our passion for these antique slot machines.  We just want to keep them all!  J

Not only does this antique slot machine have a stunning color of green, but look at the bells.  The bells are really just awesome.  Other than the obvious aesthetic beauty of this machine, let’s get to the interesting history of this vintage slot machine model. 

The O.D. Jennings Company manufactured this slot machine model for use in the southern parts of the United States, specifically Louisiana around 1937.  While it has not been proven, the story is that this model was a special order by gangster Frank Costello.  By having his own particular slot machine model, everyone knew who was in charge of and operated this ‘one armed bandit’.

The Dixie Bell is unique in that it has a false extra jackpot on the front.  The false jackpot was an attempt to attract more customers.  Customers would ‘think’ the machine had an extra-large jackpot, but they were really just being fooled.  The jackpot on the mechanism was really the same as other models being manufactured by O.D. Jennings at the time. 

Just a little bit of deception……gotta love our history!

For the before & after photos please go to: http://www.nationsattic.com/antique_jennings_slot_machine_restoration_repair_3.html

Jennings Butterfly Revamp by Jenny Creekmore

I had the privilege and opportunity to restore a JenningsButterfly Revamp slot machine.  When the slot machine arrived in our shop, I unpacked the antique machine and I instantly fell in love.  At that time, I had never seen one of these beautiful slot machines before.  The lower front casting looks very similar to the lower front casting of a Mills Poinsettia slot machine.  However, this revamp machine added a butterfly and a sunrise image.  In my opinion, it really is spectacular and quite detailed. 

Of course, directly after unpacking the slot machine, I quickly found my husband Don Creekmore.  I wanted to know everything about this machine.  I found it to be very interesting that the machine looked extremely similar to the Mills Poinsettia machine.  Almost like a copy, but with some new casting enhancements. 

Don informed me that it was indeed an O.D. Jennings slot machine and was originally an Operator Bell.  However, the machine had been revamped or modified by another company called PNC.  PNC probably made the modifications to this slot machine around 1930. 

So why would an O.D. Jennings Operator Bell need to be modified?  At least that was my question. 

When the slot machine was originally sold, it did not have a jackpot.  The jackpot feature is something that became available after this particular machine was manufactured. 

With the relatively large number of non-jackpot slot machines on the market, smaller companies, such as PNC, would buy these used slot machines.  These smaller companies would then make a new lower casting which would include a physical jackpot.  Often, they would mimic or copy other slot machines that were popular.   As in this case, the Mills Poinsettia lower front casting was mimicked.  Along with the smaller companies, Pace Manufacturing of Chicago IL made similar looking castings to revamp Mills and O.D. Jennings machines.  These companies would then resell the slot machine as a ‘revamp’ jackpot model.  To the best of my knowledge, this practice occurred from around 1928 to 1932.  By the early 1930’s all factory new slot machines contained the jackpot feature. 

I think the O.D. Jennings Butterfly Revamp slot machine is absolutely gorgeous and historically very interesting.  I would love to add one to our collection.  If you have one and are interested in selling your antique slot machine, please give me a call at 316-371-1828.

Why is that glass so NASTY? by Jenny Creekmore

1933 Mills Novelty Roman Head Jackpot With Original Laminated Glass

When I was first learning how to repair and restore antique slot machines I asked Don “Why in the world is that glass so NASTY?”    I am referring to the various areas of the slot machine that utilize glass, such as the reel window, escalator and jackpot.  This can be seen in the slot machines manufactured during the 1930’s to 1950’s.

The glass may look very dirty and in most cases cannot be seen through.  It may look yellow or brown and could even have a flaking appearance.  No matter how many times it is cleaned externally, it will not come clean.  

1937 O.D. Jennings 4 Star Chief Reel Window Glass Obscured By Delamination

Don explained to me what happened to the glass and why this was occurring.  I was surprised by the answer and it is something we do get asked frequently.  

So here is the answer!

The glass used was an early form of laminated safety glass.  Over time, the early form of plastic used to make the laminated safety glass would deteriorate or break down leaving the nasty appearance described above.  Sometimes the fused glass can be separated and cleaned with lots and lots of elbow grease.  However, in most cases, the glass simply needs to be replaced and cannot be salvaged. 

We are only aware of one other form of safety glass being used during those times.  It is the jackpot wire glass used by Watling, which is prized by collectors today.

Original 1937 Watling Rol-A-Top Jackpot Wire Glass

I hope you find this bit of trivia to be as interesting as I do.
Jenny Creekmore

My First Slot Machine! by Jenny Creekmore

Several years ago, Don and I were visiting with a fellow slot machine collector.  We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to look at his wonderful collection.  As we were looking at all of these unique machines, there it was, the slot machine that I knew we needed to have in our personal collection.  Unfortunately, this slot machine wasn’t for sale and I was quickly informed that not many of these machines had been manufactured.  Well frankly, it kind of busted my bubble, but just a little.   

I begged Don to find me one of these machines.  He told me that they were made by the Jennings Company and that they were made for less than two months.  He wanted to make sure that I understood it could take years to find a machine for sale.  So on occasion, I would ask him about my dream machine.  

Well, several years later….

Don came home and said, you won’t believe it, we have a chance to buy your slot machine.  So here it is, my very first slot machine that I purchased.  

Jennings Victoria A - AKA The Witch or Black Cat

It is my understanding that the operators back in the day called this machine the Black Cat.  The Jennings Company called this machine the Victoria Model A.  Today people refer to it as the Black Cat or the Witch. 

When the machine arrived home, I was just simply thrilled.  Our new machine looks aesthetically fantastic and is in perfect original condition.  Even the original fortune reel strips look perfect.  So here I go…I put my very first nickel into the machine and pulled the handle.  Boy howdy, the mechanism was groaning and growling like something was trying to get out of the witches cauldron.  I instantly asked Don, why the machine was so noisy.  He informed me that the machine was playing just fine and not to be alarmed.

The Jennings Company spent years developing a new mechanism.  The goal was to place the jackpot on the mechanism.  This was done for numerous reasons, of which, I hope to discuss in future postings.  The Jennings Company had great expectations for this slot machine with its new technology and look.  Unfortunately, around the same time, the Mills Company released the War Eagle.  The slot machine was not popular with the operators and the Jennings Company received negative feedback about the machine.  The Jennings Company quickly created the slot machine known as the Victoria Model B. So after less than two months of being manufactured, my wonderful and amazing Black Cat was no longer being made. 

A little bit ago, I played my machine and I hit three oranges.  The fortune says… “You’ll elope with, A country hick, Who’ll be your down-fall”  Just plain silly!  On a serious note, I am so privileged to own such a rare and unique slot machine.  I frequently get asked if I would sell my machine.  Perhaps one day, but not today.  The Witch and I are just having too much fun!