1939 Mills Horse Head Bonus

[jbshocks]

Unfortunately how I got this one was by inheriting it from my 93 year old grand mother.  This machine sat in her basement since mid 50's .  I have kept it running for the last 20 years but it spent its time in a damp basement covered in a wool hunting coat.  Hardly seems ideal.  My original plan had been to repaint this but the paint cleaned up so nice I decided just to give it a good cleaning and polish the corroded aluminum.  I first sanded with 600 grit, then 1000 grit then used mothers mag wheel cleaner.  I cleaned the award card with novice 2. 

It you notice the aware card it has been repaint on the top payouts.  What I understand is that this machine was built to send to England in 1939 and was set up to play the 6d Sixpence coin which is thinner but slightly larger in diameter to the dime.  After the war Mills wanted to get machines out quickly to make money from the GIs coming home so they brought these back.  They did as little as possible to get them in the field so they changed the 6d to 10c and repainted the award card with one less dime on each pay out to compensate for the thinner slides holding less dimes. 

I am now sure that I won't repaint the machine but I may do a little touch up.  Not sure yet.