Coin Slot Magazine - #064 - 1980 - June [International Arcade Museum]
Letters to the Editor continued
source? The reel strips on mine probably aren't the right ones.
(The Coin Slot passed this letter and questions about the
machine and manual to Dick Bueschel. Here's the result:)
They have 60 symbols per reel, black on white, cherries, lemons,
plums, bells, bars, 7s, oranges, and watermelons. The picture in
your book shows cigarettes, which is what I'd expect. Do you
know if replacements are available?
I would certainly appreciate any answers or advice you could
give.
Dear Ralph;
Thank you,
We can tell you a few things about your "Universal 2-Way
Arrow Bell", but can't help you much with the manual.
Here's the story: you've got the first machine made by
Sincerely,
Bob Christiansen
Universal Industries, Inc. of Chicago. It was designed by Mel
Binks, formerly with Keeney, and was made in January 1949. It
owes a lot to the Keeney BONUS SUPER BELL only it went a
Dear Bob:
lotfarther. A random "arrow" hitfor big winners, andyou never
knew where it would hit. That gave the machine it's name;
ARROW BELL.
Asfor the next development in this line, it came out in 1950 as
the FEA TURE BELL. But ifyou take note ofthe dates you'll see
what happened to these great machines. The Johnson Act of
January 1951 crimped slot sales and operation, and these were
among the machines that were the first to go. So A RRO W
BELL barely had a year and a half ofproduction; FEA TURE
BELL even less.
These are marvelous games, but their maintenance is up for
grabs. Manuals were probably made, but I've neverfound one in
the three or four of these machines I've seen. Hopefully some
Coin Slot reader has one and can provide itfor the preparation
of a Coin Slot Guide, but short of that we're stumped.
Here's hoping,
Best regards,
Editor
Hello:
I'm a newcomer to slot collecting, and presently have only
one, a Mills SILENT GOLDEN. I have also just acquired a
Groetchen GINGER trade stimulator. Having recently sub
scribed to The Coin Slot, I noticed your serial number
compilation (Feb. & Mar.). My Roman Head has serial number
309,422. The mechanism has a paper sticker with a number
apparently stamped on in red ink with a sequential numbering
stamp. It is VERY difficult to read, and at different times I've
interpreted it to be various numbers. My latest attempt leads me
to think the number is either 308,183or308,103. Inside the case,
on either side, are two paper stickers. One is an inspection form,
the other, a notice not to send the machine back for repair, etc.
Thev both have a printing date on them, which does not date the
machine, but would indicate the machine was made after the
printing date. The inspection form has 158-08 6-14-32 25M on it.
The notice form has 158-24 4-11-32 20M on it.
The machine looks like the one on page 66 in the Volume I
"100 most collectible slots", with a Jackpot, Reserve, and Gold
Award. It may have had a vendor on it, but doesn't now. There
are four small brad holes around the vender trip hole, and also
four brad holes above and forward of that, as if a card or plaque
had been there.
Your book indicates that my machine would be in the early
part of the series. Any ideas on approximate date?
While by Groetchen GINGER wasn't a basket case, it wasn't
working. After reconnecting a couple springs, and an hour's
om
m.c
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able to observe it's e
operation.
It's quite an interesting little
d
de- in m the Volume I "100 Most
ad like r the
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machine. Mine lo
looks
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a book, except it has a coin 'hood'
Collectible
Stimulators"
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on top, and it's
blue.
/
/
:
I've identified
http 22 pay-out combinations, and assume that is
Welcome to thefold of of collectors and you're wrecked now.
Slots will be in your head forever.
But you're certainly starting off right with a Mills SILENT
GOLDEN, andfor sure your machine was a vender. What has
happened, of course, is that you have parts of two of these
machines; the cabinet for 309,422 (which is 1933 production)
and the mechanism for 308,183 (more than likely) which is late
1932 production.
The stickers dated in 1932 are super interesting, but you're
right; the machine was made after the date on the printed tags
with the latter probably used for all of the SILENT models.
As for the Groetchen GINGER, you've got an interesting
thing there. The GINGER was a 1937 machine that vended
tokens (payouts could be in quarters instead of tokens if the
operator wanted it that way). The cabinet was a maroon red,
with cigarette or fortune reels (the latter having clover, an
anchor, or horseshoe) the two choices. But here you've got a blue
one with fruit reels. Maybe there are a lot of these around, but
we've never heard ofone. The melon symbol dates it at least 1938
or later as that's when Millsfirst brought out the melon symbol,
which later became quite popular. So we'll guess at a CHERR Y
GINGER (i.e. cherry and otherfruit symbols)from late 1938 or
sometime in 1939, and hope that some other readers of The Coin
Slot can confirm this.
As for tokens, try Steve Alpert, a Coin Slot advertiser. He
might have some, but the odds are slim. Maybe another
collector has them, but you're better offputting quarters in the
tube to have something working at least.
As for parts; forget it, or buy another GINGER to serve as a
"parts machine". That stuff is all long gone.
Best regards,
Editor
Dear Coin Slot:
With regard to the BLUE SEAL JACKPOT that you said was
a later machine, suggesting the serial is wrong, I am quite sure
the serial number is 22,815. I have enclosed a couple of pencil
rubbings of the number. There seems to be little doubt that the
first number is a "2". But it seems hard to believe it dates to 1916
when identical to the 1929 machine you dated. Was it lost?
Also, the top seems to match the rest of the machine, and is not
from another machine.
The mystery remains unsolved!
Sincerely
Rick Hector
3175 W. Clyde Place
Denver, CO 80211
worth of "push, poke, and pull", I finally got it working, and was
typical. Perhaps you could answer some questions forme on the
GINGER. Do you know if payout tokens are available for it?
My machine is missing what I guess was a lockable access door
on the bottom. Would a replacement be available from some
© The International Arcade Museum
6 — THE COIN SLOT
Rick.
You're right! I don't know why you're right, but you're right.
Your rubbing of the serial number (which I hope The Coin Slot
can reproduce) is definately 22,815. There's no mistake, ana
there's no evidence that it was altered.
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
JUNE, 1980