Frank Polk Slot Machine
Posted : admin On 4/3/2022Frank Polk was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1908, but moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1911. His first job, at age sixteen, was in the rodeo, working with his trained burro. He later landed his first cowboy job with the Yolo Ranch at Camp Wood. His 1978 autobiography, F-F-F-Frank Polk: An Uncommonly Frank Autobiography, tells of his adventures as a cowboy.
Polk’s experiences, as a ranch hand, rodeo cowboy, and dude wrangler; gave him enough material to tell authentic stories of the cowboy in America in his basswood and bronze sculptures. In the early twentieth century there were no cameras, so Polk began to carve what he saw. He wanted to communicate what cowboy life was all about. Polk eventually opened a woodcarving store in Reno, Nevada. He was creating wood sculptures of Western scenes and models of characters for slot machines when George Phippen got him interested in the idea of casting figures in bronze. “Working in wood made it difficult to achieve the action and looseness I wanted,” Polk said, “but after I started working in wax, I found I could obtain these qualities with much more freedom.”
In 1967, Joe Beeler asked him to join the Cowboy Artists of America, “the best thing that ever happened to my career as an artist,” Polk later said. In 1972, he and his wife, Mary, settled in Mayer, Arizona. He bought the Old Mayer State Bank, which Polk had wanted to own ever since he was a boy, and turned it into his studio.
Polk believed that to be an artist is to follow a calling. “I believe that everyone has a talent for something, but many do not find it. What sets an artist apart and makes him different from the other members of society is his creative nature,” he said. “An artist’s creativeness comes from within. It is not something that can be learned in books, although lessons from another artist more mature in his work can help. An artist is born with a gift from the higher-up and a constant inner contact with his maker.”
Frank Polk Slot Machine Pictures
Collections: Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art, National Center for American Western Art
CAA Member from 1967-2000
Born: September 1, 1908
Education: Self-taught
Polk eventually opened a woodcarving store in Reno, Nevada. He was creating wood sculptures of Western scenes and models of characters for slot machines when George Phippen got him interested in the idea of casting figures in bronze.
It’s no secret, Valley real estate entrepreneur Michael Pollack, of Pollack Investments loves collecting rare memorabilia. From his sought after Frank Polk Slot Machine collection to owning the largest 3D Advertising Museum in the World to a beautiful collection of rare Baranger displays, Pollack owns some of the biggest and most sought after collections around the globe.
- .original 5¢ pace '8' star bell frank polk miner slot machine: 33000: 308.5¢ & 10¢ royal novelty co. 'the trader' card machine: 12000: 309.5¢ fey duo counter two wheel slot machine: 9000: 310.5¢ & 25¢ watling rol-a-top cherry front slot machine: 11000: 311.rare 25¢ pace mfg. Kitty slot machine: 7500: 312.5¢ a.c. Daily double slot machine.
- One-Armed Bandit was produced by Nevada Novelty Co. Nevada Novelty Co. Released 2 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 0. Other machines made by Nevada Novelty Co. During the time period One-Armed Bandit was produced include Speak Easy Draw Poker. The one-armed bandit was brought to life by Frank Polk's skilled carvings of over 70 stock Western figures.
- Slot Machine published by Character Mfg. When Slot is played, the Pirate says one of 29 different phrases. Designed by: Frank Polk.
- He was creating wood sculptures of Western scenes and models of characters for slot machines when George Phippen got him interested in the idea of casting figures in bronze. “Working in wood made it difficult to achieve the action and looseness I wanted,” Polk said, “but after I started working in wax, I found I could obtain these qualities with much more freedom.”.
Over the years many have stepped in to help the Valley real estate mogul track down his next great find. So it was no surprise that Pollack is showcasing his rarities with the help of Barry Weiss and the new series “Barry’d Treasure,” to help find his next beloved antiques.
Watch “Barry’d Treasure” on A&E April 15th, at 10PM/9C as the Valley’s favorite collector teams up with Weiss on the episode entitled “The Unbearable Enlightenment of Barry” to find Pollack’s next great treasure.
Frank Polk Cowboy Slot Machine
“This was a lot of fun, not only to be working with Barry, but for him to help me find another great addition for my collection,” said Pollack. “I have been collecting antiques since I was a little boy and anyone who knows me will tell you, finding these little gems and restoring them is a full-time job and I’m just glad Barry could help me.”