Big Red and its badge

[MrAl]

I have taken off the ball tray and one badge to reveal four holes (and some dirt LOL). I am in the process if restoring this one and I wonder if anyone knows if this red paint is original. I wouldn't think so but, after removing the metal badge and revealing these four odd holes it seems the red paint may be original. Also, does anyone know why there would be four holes under the badge? I see numbers on the badge. Do these reveal anything about its date of manufacture.

red.jpgbadge.jpg

Thank you

[luckydog]

maybe they took the trim off to paint it

[MrGneiss]

Hmm..maybe it once had one of those hand cranked ball lifters??

[cardwwi]

Hmm..maybe it once had one of those hand cranked ball lifters??

[Moparformances]

Hmm..maybe it once had one of those hand cranked ball lifters??

picture of the back may help

[Moparformances]

im sure its repainted..

[MrAl]

Hmm..maybe it once had one of those hand cranked ball lifters??

Aaah that is an excellent observation!!! Wonder if this was put together by one Japanese manufacturer and then bought by another and removed. It would be interesting to know the machine's journey.

Does anyone have insight to the numbers on the badge? Probably just patent or trademark numbers, but it would be nice to guess an age. I'm thinking late fifties

[browne92]

Hmm..maybe it once had one of those hand cranked ball lifters??

My first thought as well. I also agree with Mopar that it has been repainted. Not that I'm familiar with that machine, but by the looks of the paint job.

My two cents, which is about double what it's worth.

[pachiwall]

I vote for hand crank ball lifter as well! Maybe it never had one, frame just drilled for the option. Probably not likely...don't think things were mass produced so that the frame was prepped for one and never installed. They don't seem very common as well. And who would remove such a cool option...unless it was damaged. If removed, it was done in Japan, hence the plate. Look at the back (post pics), if one was there...there should be some evidence. I also believe it was painted.

[mxfaiman]

Well it looks like you found another rare beast there.

If I was to guess it was built in late 1951 or 1952. It was most likely fitted with the hand crank ball lift. Then in 1953 they banned that style which means it was taken out of the parlor and retrofitted to be up to current standards. Or it was a 52 model sitting in the factory when the law was passed and the factory changed it and then sent it to a parlor. But who knows for sure.

I want to say the red paint was done by someone else. But looking at it is is really well done and is under every nook and cranny. If I was to guess it may have been painted when the crank was taken off. It isn't the first 50's red machine I have seen so it may have been done by a retrofit company. Like I know most 50's Ginza machines were painted black. So the red sorta makes sense.

As for that tag. The numbers are meaningless in finding the date. That tag is just for the parlor to contact the builder (hence the phone numbers).

For some reason the logo on the tray and tag seem familiar to me but I can't remember what brand it is associated with.

Hope that sorta helps with some confusion.