Coin Slot Magazine - #051 - 1979 - May [International Arcade Museum]
jOeffers to ffie Cditor
Bear CoinStot,
who knows if there would even be a "slot machine"
collecting hobby today.
Undoubtedly, the most gratifying transformation
in the "Great Order of Slot Machine Collectors"
has developed from the voluminous information
that is found in today's fine trade periodicals (i.e.
The Coin Slot), manufacturing catalog reprints, and
the slot history publications.
Two decades ago
when my brother, Frank, and myself began collec
ting there were few collectors.
The only bonafide
collector I knew was Tony Mills, and the only slot
literature available was what little we had.
There
was a wonderful consolation for this lack of inter
est and that was low, low, low prices!
Your comments regarding theories, facts, and
dates are appreciated and quite true in many in
stances.
From the dawn of time man has always
filled
the
in
speculation.
missing
facts with conjecture and
Which is okay and perfectly accep
table except for the fact that the two sometimes
become intertwined and eventually inseparable.
I
guess all we can do is bring it to these historians
attention, and hope that they will pay heed to your
advice, Marshall.
Today slot machine mania has become so soph
isticated that we now have a blue book, informa
tive price guides and even slot history books, are
in the offering. How great it is! Not only are they
a fine reference, but a tool to learn how, when and
where these ingenious devices evolved.
I buy most
all the literature that becomes available and invar
iably I am treated to facts previously unknown.
This new breed of historians deserve a tremen
dous amount of credit for a herculean task of re
searching
an
industry
recorded in the past.
that
has
been
so poorly
But I do feel a little caution
might be exercised in the realm of probability.
There are theories and facts and theories should
not necessarily be treated as facts. Some historians
will introduce questionable fact with probability
phraseology.
Also because many of the encom
passing dates of some manufacturing were never
recorded, rather than using an educated guess, the
term 'circa' could be inserted.
Greatly overshadowing the above negation is the
hat is off to them.
Keep that good stuff
coming!
rt
First of all, I would like to know if you are
aware of any proposed legislation or any collector
in Iowa working towards this end.
If not I would -
appreciate it if you would send me copies of the
law as it was passed in the states of South Dakota,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. I could
pass this information along to a friend of mine in
the legislature and think there is a good possibility
that a law could be passed in our state.
Enclosed
please find $5.00 for your trouble and for printing
this information.
If no other collector or dealer in the state of
Iowa is currently working towards this legislation,
such person that is a subscriber to the Coin Slot
magazine in order that I could have them speak to
the senator or representative in their area, if this
wouldn't be possible you might mention it in your
editorial section or I could possible do it with a
Marshall Fey
If not for your great grandfather's ingenuity,
© The International Arcade Museum
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.com
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Dear Mr. Fey,
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Dow //w coming!
ww We love it! Oh
Keep a\\ that praise
:
tp are off to you as well, Mar
ht hats
incidentally, our
Reno, Nevada
shall.
I am a small collector of slots and would like
to see them legalized in my state (Iowa).
it might be good if I could have the names of any
magnanimous work done by our new-historians.
My
Dear Coin Slot:
Sincerely,
Robert Anastasi
101 Court St.
Harlan, Iowa 51537
http://www.arcade-museum.com/