SOLD! This original Watling Rol-a-Tor which was an early manufactured machine for a brief period in the Watling line of Slot machines. Shortly after the Rol-a-Tor line was on production was changed to Rol-a-Top due to patent infringement over the name from a law suit by Norge Rollator Refrigerator Company. So few Watling Rol-a-tors were produced especially the quarter machines. The 25 cent Rol – A-Tor machine is a very rare machine compared to the Rol- a-tops with only a few quarter machines ever manufactured. The Rol a tor were made only with “Golden Token awards “ feature and mint vendors. In the 1930’s who would pay 25 cent for a roll of lifesavers. No one wanted to pay a quarters for a nickel pack of life savers.
Soon Watling Stopped the production of quarters machines. I have only seen one other 25 cent RolATor slot machine for sale with an ugly paint job and are asking $8900. My machine is all original condition, has Original paint, original Watling lock and key, original fortune reel strips, token award feature, original mint vendor locks with key, a nice rare machine for your collection. This Machine in good working order. The mint vendors have plates with lock and key and does not vend mints at the moment. I have never seen a RolATor quarter machines come up for sale before. No. 0036

GUEST:
It belonged to my great-aunt, and when we were kids visiting, we'd admire it. And she eventually gave it to my brothers and I. And with a little bartering on my part and their part, I ended up with it.

Welcome to my antique slot machine home page. I am a collector of antique slot machines. I have one of the largest collections of 3 reel machines in the US and am constantly looking for interesting machines to add to my collection. Unlike other collectors, I rarely sell machines, in fact, some people call my collection the 'Black. 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. When you call or e-mail please provide the following information.

APPRAISER:
What have you discovered about it?

GUEST:
Well, I was at a store where they restored slot machines, and I looked it up and they had a Totem. No picture, just a... _ Totem. And it gave a value of perfect condition around $10,000.

APPRAISER:
Well, it is a very, very rare machine. When I saw this on the table, I was really quite taken aback. It is an early slot machine and it is the Totem. And it was made by one of the great makers of slot machines, the Watling Manufacturing Company. They made some of the best and most unusual slot machines. These date from around 1910 and then forward. After the slot machine business disappeared, they ended up making nothing but penny scales. And I remember over 40 years ago I bought an old penny scale and I called up the Watling Company to get a footplate and I spoke to the old man Watling himself. It's a great old company, and this is a rare survivor with its original glass. See, this is reverse-on-glass decals. If this were damaged, it would really radically affect the value. It also has the original payout paper. All of these are little details that really help in the value. There is one problem with the machine, and that is that it does have a replacement rear door, but that is a small problem when considering the rarity. It has all the working mechanisms. It's a really complex piece. And another thing that makes this a very rare machine... you know most are three reelers. This has a double arrow action. We put the nickel in here, and they can see that there's a real nickel and not a slug. That was part of the security measures.

GUEST:
Right.

APPRAISER:
And then you pull this knob down... and if you match up the fruit, you get some nickels back. Not bad, eh?

GUEST:
You have good luck.

APPRAISER:
So, now, your research suggested that if it were in perfect condition it would be worth about $10,000. Well, this is really not perfect condition, but for a machine of this rarity, it is in extraordinary condition. I've done a little research and I think a conservative auction value in today's market is in the $25,000 to $30,000 range.

GUEST:
Whoa. That's considerably more than I anticipated.

Watling Slot Machine 77070

Watling Slot Machine Company

APPRAISER:
I think you're going to have a little more trouble with your brother.