Watling Slot Machine

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. A slot machine (American English), known variously as a fruit machine (British English), puggy (Scottish English), the slots (Canadian English and American English), poker machine/pokies (Australian English and New Zealand English), fruities (British English) or slots (American English), is a gambling machine that creates a game of chance for its customers. Slot machines are also known. Watling Rolatop Slot Machine Coin-Op Promo Flyer original 2 sided. $145.00 + shipping. Seller 100% positive. Columbia Chrome Bell Slot Machine Coin-Op Promo Flyer.

Thomas White Burns Watling 1862-1943

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. Watling's history in the slot business is a little different from most of the manufacturers. For a start they enter the story very early on. Thomas Watling was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 24th august 1862 but must have soon moved to the USA for he was in a position to found the Watling Manufacturing Co in 1889 at the age of just 27.

Watling's history in the slot business is a little different from most of the manufacturers. For a start they enter the story very early on. Thomas Watling was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 24th august 1862 but must have soon moved to the USA for he was in a position to found the Watling Manufacturing Co in 1889 at the age of just 27. From the start they were into gambling machines similar to the early Callie and Mills spinning disc style of machines and there is no mention of them making their famous coin operated weight scales until 1902. (For more on Watling scales visit our section)

Through the 20's and early 30's their slots mirrored those of the other big makers in looks,where they differed from the others at this time was they chose not to keep changing their designs but ,with minor changes, based all their machines on the Blue seal design. By the mid 1930's this policy was clearly hurting their sales, in the first few years of this decade they released more new scale designs than slots for the first time and the new 'Gold award Vendor' and 'Jackpot' machines launched in 1933 had their prices slashed to $75 each a year after their launch in an attempt to increase sales.

the 1933 jackpot & (Baby)Gold Vendor

To their credit Watling,still being run by Tom Watling, took steps to fix the problem with a spectacular new design ,The Rol-A-Top. This highly ornate machine must have stolen the show in 1935. The machine was preceded by the 'Treasury' a very similar machine but lacking the round coin escalator which was to become the Rol-A-Top's outstanding feature. Originally called the 'Rol-A-Tor' no one seems to know for sure why it became the 'Rol-A-Top' the most likley reason for the change would be the original name made no sense to players where as 'Rol-A-Top' at least appeared to relate to the round escalator,another reason put forward is that the original name was simply a mistake. Either way the name was changed without too much trouble by removing the lower part of the 'R' from the casting making it a 'P'.

The trouble with this machine was a combination of it being a big success and the companies continued reluctance to re design meant that this machine,all be it in several variants, would remain their flagship machine right up to the end of their slot machine producing days.

On march 3rd 1943 Tom Watling died aged 80 and his four sons,who were to all intents running the business by then,took full control,the eldest, John, became CEO with Bill running the scales division and Walter the slots, Burns Watling handled the admin. In reality all four were at that time running a munitions factory as the slot industry already in a slump during WW2 due to the lack of aluminium and customers was closed down altogether by the government in 1942 for the duration and switched to war production. Watling threw themselves whole heartedly into this becoming one of the smallest companies to win the prestigious Army and Navy 'E' award for war production in in June 1943.

After the war the company switched back to slot production but their designs were looking out dated by this time and the last Rol-A-Top, the checker board,was launched in 1947. Only the range of scales continued to be developed after Feb 1947 with the weight and fortune telling range being the best sellers.The last Watling machine to be released was one of these scales in 1960.

Much of the tooling and spare parts from the slot division were sold to the Bell-Fruit-Co in the UK.

Watling produced over 166 different products over almost 70 years and the Rol-o-top remains a much sort after machine by collectors today.

A selection of Watling Machines 1889- 1960

Floor Standing 'Big Six' Counter top 'Brownie'

Cupid with Gum strip vendor all I know about this strange machine is

it was made by Watling

3 Reel Vendor single Reel 'Big Six'

Watling Slot Machine Serial Numbers

this machine looks to be an upgrade of This machine is particularly interesting as it

the single reel seen on the right appears to be an attempt to convert their earlier

Watling Slot Machine Parts

'spinning Disc' machine into a slot cased version

Blue Seal Blue Seal Twin Fancy Front

this machine is owned by one of our registered members

The Gold Seal and one of the tokens it used, the token is not as politically incorrect as it looks at first sight,the Swastika on the token is a Buddhist good luck sign ,The Nazi version has the arms pointing the other way,even so,later versions of the token dropped the Swastika but kept the same basic design

The Blue Seal 'Baseball'

1926 Lincoln De Lux 1910 Operators Bell

Blue Seal Confections 1933 Baby Gold Award Vendor

Watling Slot Machine Stand

1934 Treasury 1934 Rol-A-Tor Vendor

The lead up to the Rol-0-top

Rol-ATop Cherry counter top and console models

Rol-A-Top 'Horn of plenty' or ' Cornucopia ' counter top and Vendor models

Rol-A-Top 'Bird of Paradise' counter top and Vendor Models

Close up of Bird of paradise art work

Rol-A-top 'Chekerboard' The last Watling slot to be launched (1947)

Early Rol-A-Top Mech Escalator

WatlingCoin operated Weight Scale The rather odd Vibratory Doctor,with a third hand ?

Watling Slot Machine Company

Ebay Antique Slot Machines

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