Ever heard a slot machine referred to as a One-Armed Bandit? Well these old slot machines and figures are the real thing. You might recognize the woodcarvings, Old-West figures with slot machines from the 1950's. Not that you are that old, but hey, they've been around since then and you can still see them in vintage settings like the watering holes along the dusty old streets of Virginia City, Nevada.
Photo Courtesy of (Mannie Sanchez)
Ever wonder where they came from? Well, hold on, I'm going to tell you. You see, in the late 1940's, artist Frank Polk was struggling to find a way to sell his woodcarvings and, open to new and crazy thoughts the way an artist should be, he somehow came up with the idea of attaching a slot machine to a six-foot gunslinger statue. The prototype looked so good he eventually made 92 of the western figures and they were sold through Skelly's Character Manufacturing Company of Reno, Nevada.
While modern slot machines use computer chips and animation to capture players' interest, the old west sculptures held post-war Pace machines and Mills High-Tops that worked on a single coin, usually a quarter. Of course that's back when a quarter got you a drink, a pack of smokes, or a gallon of gas.
In 1979, Master wood carver Mannie Sanchez of Trinidad, Colorado, produced 15 western figures (as shown in the photo above) using the same care and precision that went into Frank Polk's carvings. Mannie's figures were also graced with Mills High-Top slots from the 1950's and have been in private hands ever since.
Before you go gunning for the one-armed bandits at your favorite casino you might want to take a look at some of the newest games, even coinless machines, available right year. And then, once you are armed, enjoy!
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