Antique Gambling and Slot Machines. We sell a limited number of original, vintage slot machines. From rare early uprights to the well known 3 reel machines, we repair, restore, refinish, buy, sell and trade coin operated machines. Used (normal wear), Up for sale is a really nice casino slot machine of legal age to own in your home Gameroom. I also have a pinball machine, Jukebox and arcade machine for sale and I travel the Tampa Bay Area repairing broken coin op equipment.
Coin-Op & Gambling
The last, also the best one, is the Royal Flush. It displaces all symbols, and the multiplier is now x5 for all the paying lines. While you Play Hand of The Devil free slot bonus round any of this Scatter will be shown up during this turn, and they will stay locked into the position on reels until the gratis turn is over.
The Barry Goldfarb Coin-Op & Gambling Collection
ACCOMMODATIONS
Orleans Hotel Casino: 1-800-675-3267
Code: A7VMC01 (Valid January 25 – 30, 2017)
Reservations need to be made by 12/24/16 to receive discount.
Over One Thousand Machines…But Who’s Counting?
By Donna and Barry Goldfarb
I am married to a collector, and not just any collector. Not a stamp collector, a coin collector, or unfortunately for me, not a jewelry collector either. My husband collects slot machines! Three wheeled, beautiful, old, large and very large slot machines. We have put a third floor in our house, just for him to display more of his slot machines. Over one-thousand machines…but who’s counting? He reads, studies catalogs, repairs, paints, travels to shows, attends meetings, and basically spends most of his leisure time pursuing this hobby. He started collecting slot machines over 35 years ago, but after he sold his company in 1994 his desire and interest in collecting soared.
I am not a collector. I have tried, with his encouragement, to collect turtles, salt and pepper shakers, Limoges, napkin rings, but seem to always lose interest. This is because I don’t have “the bug”. I admire him having a passion that does not stop. Where I get bored with hobbies after some time, he remains true to his passion, his collecting.
If collecting is genetic, then it has skipped over our children. Our 31 year old son, Michael, and our 27 year old daughter, Amy, have grown up with this collector of a father. They see him tinkering with his machines in the garage, but don’t seem to desire having more than a couple of anything, electronics excluded!
Barry is a collector in its truest form, he enjoys the hunt, the pursuit, and ultimately, the prize! He captured my heart 32 years ago and I am still crazy about my collector after all these years!
I still remember buying my first slot in 1973- a Mills Bursting Cherry. It was a real basket case that I bought at a garage sale for a couple hundred dollars. I took it apart, painted it, and with a couple of extra parts, I was hooked for life. I used to joke with my friends that I would not stop collecting until I had them all, not realizing how many thousands of coin op games there were! It gave me a great excuse to keep going, because I truly am addicted.
I’m reminded every time I walk into a casino, of the influence and legacy that Charles Fey had in creating a billion dollar industry. Each machine, like unique pieces of art, came with a story that I wanted to learn more about. To name a few, the all wood Pace Comet made during World War II because metal was scarce. The Pace Royal Double, as beautiful as they come, is played with two different coins with one pull! As well as the Polk “Miner”, a piece so life like, that people who see it for the first time think it is a real person! Each piece, so rich with beauty and history, reminds me why I love this hobby.
I want to thank my wife, Donna, and children Michael and Amy, for being so understanding. A special thanks to my assistant of thirty years, Judy, who has been so helpful in all my endeavors. And lastly, a thanks to all the great friends I have met through this hobby.
Morphy Auctions’ January, 2017 Las Vegas Coin-Op Event to Feature a Breathtaking Selection of Antique Arcade, Vending, and Gambling Machines.
This 1,700+ lot auction follows closely on the heels of the company’s blockbuster coin-op sale in October, 2016 and features many world class machines consigned directly from the Barry Goldfarb collection.
Morphy Auctions is pleased to announce this multi-million dollar sales event to be held on Saturday, January 28th and Sunday, January 29th, 2017 starting at 8am PST both days. All lots from this auction are on display in Morphy’s Las Vegas auction gallery and available for preview now.
Let’s take a gamble and start off by reviewing this sale’s remarkable selection of countertop slot machines. Lot #155, a Charles Fey Liberty Bell slot machine and shipping crate, rings true with its $150,000-250,000 estimate. This 1895 example, in working, all original, untouched condition, is considered the apex of all coin-op gambling machines ever manufactured. Lot #903, a circa 1905-1910 5¢ Caille Liberty package gum slot machine, believed to be the only known surviving example, is estimated at $120,000-$225,000. It was designed to sidestep the gambling laws of the time by dispensing a pack of gum with every play; unlike other machines with a vending element, this model has the gum vendor on top of the machine. Lot #156, an early 1900’s 1¢ Caille Hy-Lo poker machine, takes the high road with its $20,000-$40,000. This royal flush example is in working, untouched, all original condition, including the marquee with its paper award card. Lot #5, a late 1930’s 5¢ Mills Novelty Co. Hoke Snake slot machine estimated at $25,000-$50,000, features a distinctive serpentine motif on the upper and lower castings along with the skill element. To the best of our expert’s knowledge, this is the only known example with this amazingly eye-catching detailing. And it’s a grand slam with lot #6, a 1910 1¢ Caille base-ball slot machine, estimated at $10,000- $15,000.
Enthusiasts will also want to drop a dime on this sale’s amazing offering of antique floor model gambling machines. Lot #306, a circa 1905 5¢ Mills roulette slot machine, would be a head-spinning addition to any collection. This extraordinarily rare example, in phenomenal, all original condition with nickel plated iron castings and a handsome quarter sawn oak cabinet, is estimated at $150,000- $300,000. Lot #154, an 1899 5¢ and 25¢ Mills “Double Dewey” musical slot machine, is worth a double – or even triple – take. This outstandingly constructed and decorated machine features an oak cabinet with recessed panels, carved appliques, fluted columns, ornate cast iron claw feet, and reliefs of Admiral Dewey and Mozart. It is well in tune with its $60,000- $80,000 estimate. Any jury would find lot #304, a 5¢ Mills “The Judge” musical cabinet slot machine, guilty of being remarkably desirable. This unusual example, featuring an oak cabinet with recessed panels and carved applique details and ornate cast iron elements, is estimated at $15,000-$30,000. Lot #103, a circa 1901 5¢ Caille New Century musical Detroit slot machine can play up to six coins at a time and is estimated at $20,000- $30,000. And there’s gold in the hills with lot #307, a 1949 life-sized carved wooden 5¢ Pace “8” Star Bell Frank Polk miner slot machine, estimated at $20,000- $30,000.
This sale’s amazing selection of over 300 trade stimulators leaves nothing up to chance. Lot #253, a 1920’s era 10¢ Lukat “The Lucky Cat” trade stimulator, will have collectors feline groovy with its $20,000-$40,000 estimate. It rewards winning players with a gumball and cigars. Lot #191, an early 20th century cast iron 5¢ Watling “Color Match” trade stimulator, is noteworthy for its condition as well as its original side vendor. It is estimated at $20,000- $40,000. Lot #937, an early 1900’s 5¢ Mills Bulls Eye Counter Wheel trade stimulator, is certain to hit the mark with its $15,000- $25,000 estimate. This example, in excellent, unrestored, all original condition features ornately detailed castings affixed to a matching cast iron rotating base and a near mint tin litho color wheel. Lot #1049, a circa 1935 5¢ Superior Vendomat cigarette vender trade stimulator, will meet its match with its $8,000 – $15,000 estimate. And it’s all hands on deck with lot #341, an early 20th century 5¢ Mills Novelty “The Pilot” nautical themed countertop trade stimulator, estimated at $15,000- $20,000. This beautifully detailed cast iron example has a 6-way coin head and one reel with images of spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds, an anchor, and a sailor; winnings are paid out in trade checks ranging from 10¢ to $2.
According to Dan Morphy, President of Morphy Auctions, “Morphy Auctions enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence with antique coin-op machines, and this sale only cements our leadership position in this important category. This event, featuring many outstanding examples from the Barry Goldfarb collection, will undoubtedly tempt collectors with its phenomenal offerings of antique arcade, vending, and gambling machines. The 1905 5¢ Mills roulette slot machine is truly in a class by itself and we are delighted to be able to offer it to our collectors through this sale. We welcome you to visit our gallery in Las Vegas to view these exceptional machines in person, or of course check them out online anytime at www.morphyauctions.com.”
Everyone knows how a slot machine works. You put your money in, pull the lever and hope that the reels match up for the big payout. What you may not know is that the history of slot machines is fascinating and shows just where they’re headed in the future.
Slot Machine 1920 Royal Flush Valve
The Origin of Slot Machines
The term “slot machine” originally referred to standard vending machines when it was first coined back in the 1880s. The name comes from dropping a nickel into the coin slot to get the product you wanted.
By 1885, the first machines designed for gambling were created, but they bore little resemblance to what we call a slot machine today. These were novelty machines that featured things like toy horses racing around a small track, and patrons of bars and saloons would often bet nickels or tokens that could be redeemed for drinks and cigars.
In 1891 a Brooklyn establishment developed a machine that was closer to what we know today. This machine had five drums, and each drum had 10 different card faces on it, which made it a primitive slot poker machine. Like before, people would put nickels in and get drinks or cigars as prizes based on the hands they won. The 10 of spades and jack of hearts were not included on most machines, which made it harder for people to get a royal flush. A big problem, however, was that automatic payouts were impossible due to a large amount of winning combinations.
History of Slot Machines at the Turn of the 1900s
Finally, in 1894-5, a Bavarian-born San Franciscan named Charles Fey created the “Liberty Bell”, the first true slot machine. This used three spinning reels with five symbols on each. These symbols were the eponymous bells, hearts, spades, diamonds, and horseshoes. The simpler and smaller method allowed automatic payouts of actual cash, and three bells produced the biggest payout of 50 cents. Over 100 of these machines were made, but only four survive today due to the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire.
Competitors quickly refined the original design. By 1909, they were finding ways to circumvent the bans on slot machines that were being imposed by many states and cities. The card suits were replaced with the now-ubiquitous fruits, and anyone who got three like fruits would win some chewing gum of that flavor.
Most of these early “chewing gum dispensers” didn’t have slots for nickels, and the financial transactions were done over the bar itself. They did, in time, have slots for ejecting chewing gum. The “bar” symbol was developed in 1910, and it was originally a variation on the logo of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company. In 1916, the first true jackpot originated when the Mills Novelty Company developed a way to regurgitate all the machine’s coins with certain reel combinations.
By 1920, however, many states caught on, and even these machines were banned. In 1931, gambling was legalized in Nevada, and slot machines quickly became a top method of making money. By 1951, Nevada was the only state that had legal slot machines, but other states and other countries started having changes of heart because of the amount of money that could be made.
By 1963, the first fully electromechanical slot machine, “Money Honey”, had been invented. This allowed things such as bottomless coin hoppers, automatic payouts of up to 500 coins, and 3- or 5-coin multipliers, allowing extra ways to play and win. In 1976, the first true all-video machines were created, where people could just press a button.
In 1986, the method of linking multiple machines of the same type was developed, allowing higher super jackpots linked to anyone playing on those machines. Improvements in computer technology and random number generation have led to the slots we love today.
Why Are Slots So Popular?
First, they’re designed to make the player seem like they have more control over the game. This is despite the fact that they actually have less control over how they fare than they would with anything else in a casino. There’s no dealer involved, no other players and no one standing by to remind you of what you have to do. There’s just you and the machine.
Second, they’re designed for people to have fun. Unlike card games, which involve a lot of pressure, psychology and personal skill to win, the only thing you have to do is pull the lever or press the button to enjoy the sounds and pictures. If you do manage to win a good amount, you are greeted with bright lights and virtual confetti on top of your winnings.
Third, they’re designed to bring out all of our ideas about luck. Since they are computerized to ensure a completely random outcome, we get to see if crossing our fingers or holding that rabbit’s foot actually means something.
What the Future Holds for Slot Machines
The technology continues to evolve and adapt to new trends in gaming. Millennials are less likely to use slot machines than their elders because they prefer skill to sheer luck. To solve this problem, new skill-based machines are being developed.
As sports betting is expanding, another concept being reviewed is a combination betting machine that would allow players to bet on sports and slots at the same time. Voice controls are also on the horizon for many slot machine manufacturers, and so are machines that accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
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