Worth more than you could fit in the slot... Rare coin-ops collection is for sale

Morphy Auctions will be selling the late Bob Levy's personal collection of gambling and coin-op machines over Labor Day weekend, 2011. The collection of 350-400 antique and vintage machines will be offered in its entirety in a September 3 session at Morphy's gallery, with Internet live bidding.

A renowned expert in the field of coin-ops, and head of Morphy's Antique Gambling Machine & Coin-op department, Bob passed away on February 21 of this year.

Although he was a prominent and very active dealer for many years, Bob also had a coveted private collection of machines that he called his "keepers."

The executors of Bob's estate, in carrying out the instructions in his will, appointed Morphy's to handle the collection, with no private selling to occur prior to auction day.

Morphy Auctions' CEO Dan Morphy said he feels a personal commitment "to make every effort possible to put the machines Bob loved in the hands of others who would appreciate them just as much as he did."

Dan said Bob Levy had a great passion for his collection. "Those machines were Bob's life. He enjoyed every minute of buying and selling, but the machines he kept for himself were his treasures. They were second only to his family in terms of importance."

"We are deeply honored that Bob chose us to auction his collection," Morphy continued.

"My staff and I knew Bob very well, and as sad as we are that he is no longer with us, we feel certain that Bob would want us to be excited about marketing and auctioning the wonderful machines he considered so special. We will make sure that every aspect of the sale is conducted in a way that would have made Bob proud."

Bob Levy's collection has already arrived at Morphy's gallery and will be the centrepiece of an auction line-up containing additional select consignments of antique gambling, vending and other coin-operated machines. The best may be used as investments.