Coin Slot Magazine - #044 - 1978 - September [International Arcade Museum]
But there is a way to find out, and the machines themselves tell
us. In a careful application of Victorian industrial sense practically
all of the slot machine manufacturers put a serial number on their
machines. Well, on most machines, anyway. All we have to do is
take a look at all of the machines, compile lists, and pass them out
to any collectors who are interested. Think about that; on the surface
that's impossible! But there is a way to do it. The proposal is
THE COIN SLOT "Serial Number Clearing House." Take a look at
the form that follows this article. The idea is to have collectors send
in their serial numbers which in turn will be played back to all of
the readers of THE COIN SLOT. It'll take time to learn something,
but if we don't get started some time we'll never get this type of
knowledge assembled. So now is the time to get serious about serials,,
and get the final missing piece of slot machine history and identifica
tion started.
THE COIN SLOT will periodically run serial lists as supplied by
collectors.
Dick Bueschel has volunteered to compile the resulting
lists. Photos will also be used if you send them in, provided they are
clear enoygh for reproduction. You may or may not want to be iden
tified as the collector that supplies the serial number and photograph
depending on the area you live in. No problem. If you want to re
main anonymous, just let us know.
To get the ball rolling Dick Bueschel has started us out with an
article about Watling serials, providing some typical known numbers
and the background behind Watling serials. Later we'll get into Mills,
Jennings, Pace, Caille and others, including the "highboy" floor auto
matic color wheel machines, counter machines and trade stimulators.
Help us alorvg as soon as you can and start sending the forms back to
Dick. If you don't want to cut up your issue of THE COIN SLOT or
have more than a dozen machines to list, make a xerox of the form
and fill it out.
Note that the form calls for the machine manufacturer name
(if you know it; or the nickname will do. For instance, the Mills
SILENT was also called "War Eagle"), a description code (actually,
the codes used on the form prepared by Dick are exactly the same
codes used by the 3-reel Bell machine operators thirty years ago),
the coin used to play, the tag date (very important if we ever want
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to get date relationships. You'll find the date tag paper inside of the
machine) and the serial number.
Most of the serial numbers are
fairly easy to find. On the old floor machines they are often die
stamped in the wooden cabinet near the top and most often on the
right side. The number is often repeated -as a die stamp or black
stencil inside of the cabinet on the removable panel. Bell machines,
such as the three and four reelers, are easier. Starting in 1909 Mills,
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