Playing slot machines can be a lot of fun, and collecting slot machines is a hobby enjoyed by many happy gamblers. Instead of investing all their money at the casino, they invest in actual slot machines. The machines can provide hundreds of hours of "free" play, and some machines have gone up in value over the years. Although many people like the slots made in the 1930's and 1940's, today's slots and video poker games are very popular too.
Forty years ago when there wasn't a single book about slot machines in any library in the country, David G. Christensen decided that instead of just making some posters from the beautiful, fine-line illustrations he had made of old slot machines, he would actually search out the history of several dozen machines and present the drawings and the history as a book. Printed in 1972 by Vestal Press, Slot Machines – A Pictorial Review managed to find a small market and was republished with a new forward by machine historian Richard M. Bucschel.
Many slot machine enthusiasts found new reasons to collect slot machines after the book came out, and more books about slots like Marshal Fey's Slot Machines would follow.
The First Slot MachineThere were many coin-operated gambling devices manufactured in the late 1800's, and some of them were made with spinning playing cards and payouts were based on poker hands. However, Charles Fey is credited with producing the first true slot machine with spinning reels, the 1899 Liberty Bell.
Although an authentic Liberty Bell slot would cost a small fortune, there are many slots available from turn-of-the-century manufacturers like Adolph Caille, Thomas Watling and H.S. Mills that have amazing reliability, unimaginable engineering, and can still be played for real coins. Not all states allow even vintage slot ownership, so check before you buy anything!
Slot machines were first produced to be completely mechanical. Later, in the 1960's, electro-mechanical machines were produced. As of this writing, there isn't that much difference in price between a nice Mills Hi-Top machine (produced from 1947 to 1962) and an electro-mechanical Bally machine from the 1970's. Small production slots like the Mills 1929 Baseball Vendor sell for much higher prices.
Price guides are available for slot machines and list varying quantities made, estimated in existence, and prices realized. Because slot machines were legal in many areas of the country for the first half of the 20th century, there were thousands and thousands of slot made. The 1930's were an especially productive and exciting time for collectors to remember, as new machines like the Mills Bonus Bell, Mystery Bell and Cherry Bell were made with vivid artwork adorning their cast metal fronts. O.D. Jennings followed suit with colorful machines. These slots sell in the $3500 range.
Watling Rol-A-Top machines made in 1935 are collector favorites. An original machine in excellent condition might bring $12,000 while a reconditioned machine might sell for $8,000.
Caille manufactured slightly less expensive machines than other producers in the 1920's and 1930's. After selling the business to Fuller Johnson in 1932, the company produced the Caille Cadet, a smooth-front machine that was produced in six colors - all bland. Today a 1936 Cadet lists for about $2500, but is likely to sell for half that amount on ebay.
Jennings machines were still in use at casinos like the Nevada Club in Reno until the 1990's. These versatile machines were true workhorses. The machines made in the 1940's featured a high-top design with brushed chrome and lights. These machines like the Standard Chief and Sun Chief have been seen recently for sale in the $4800 range. Slightly rarer Tic-Tac-Toe models command another $1000.
Pace machines were popular for many years and used in casinos like Harold's Club until the 1970's. The machines were stury, steady, and built for excessive use. They sell for about $2000. Harrah's casino in Reno preferred all chrome Pace machines, and collectors now pay a small premium over the machines used at Harold's Club.
Bally Manufacturing was formed in 1931 and produced pin games. In 1938 they made a "Double Bell" machine that allowed the player an option of playing both sides of a 3-reel machine. One side was 5-cents, the other 25-cents. This machine is selling right now in Laughlin, Nevada for $4800.
Bally electro-mechinical slots like the Money Honey are quite popular. They also didn't have the misfortune to be around after slots were outlawed in all states but Nevada in the early 1950's, so very few were destroyed. Instead of coin-tubes with slides to make different payouts, the new 1964 Bally 742A used an electrical hopper that held several hundred coins and could make payoffs from two coins to 200 coins.
The machines were extremely popular and Bally eventually dominated the market in Nevada to the demise of many other slot manufacturers. These machines are durable and easy to maintain for those with some basic mechanical and electrical ability.
Repair
If you are mechanically inclined, you can probably fix any of the old mechanical machines yourself, although you might need a little help or a repair manual. Manuals are even available in book form for specific machines, and replacement parts like springs and reels strips are easily found online.
Newer machines, especially those with computer motherboards (including IGT video slots and poker), may need to be take to a repair shop. It's a good idea to use a dolly to move your slot machines around with, because even the old machines are quite heavy. An older slot with wooden side might weigh sixty to seventy pounds. A newer slot with a heavy door and steel sides is likely to be well over 100 pounds.
