Coin Slot

Coin Slot Magazine - #074 - 1981 - April [International Arcade Museum]
A Letter to Montana
Dear Mr. Yardley,
Some of our readers have urged us to contact you in
regard to House Bill #176. We publish a monthly
magazine, The Coin Slot, and a number of books writ
ten by author/historian Richard M. Bueschel which deal
with antique slot machines. We have always attempted
to do all that we possibly could to encourage the pas
sage of bills which allow the residents of a particular
state to possess antique slot machines.
The machines of which we are speaking are truly a
piece of Americana. They were invented and manufac
tured, as you know, here in the United States. The
mechanical machines are a testament to the ingenuity
of men back in the early 1900's. Machinists today, in
this age of computers and microprocessors, marvel at
the complexity and yet simplicity of the mechanisms.
Many of the cases can easily take their place beside
the beautiful pieces of antique furniture which display
the craftsmenship of the early Americans.
To lose the machines to other states because of a
misunderstanding of the current use is a most un-
forunate happening. We cannot deny that the machines
were originally developed for gambling purposes. Their
use today as a means of gambling is as worthwhile as
one desiring to use a Model T versus one of the new
Fords or using a wash board versus an automatic
washer. The mechanical slot machines cannot stand up
under the continual play that modern machines
tolerate. There is also the point that casinos want to be
able to keep accurate counts on coins played and coins
paid out. The old mechanical machines can't do this,
whereas the new machines can even be connected to
an in-house computer to keep the slot manager up to
date on an hourly basis. The whole point is that the
casinos do not want the old machines, except as pieces
of nostalgia. The modern machines are far more ef
ficient and profitable.
We sincerely hope that House Bill #176 will find pas
sage under your guidance. We are enclosing a copy of
our magazine so that you can see that we are serious in
our efforts. Dick Bueschel, my husband Bill and I will
help in any way that we can.
Thank you for your efforts thus far.
Sincerely,
Rosanna Harris
The Change In the Bill
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an antique slot machine
that is not used in the operation or promotion of unlawful
gambling activity. For purposes of this section, an antique slot
machine is a slot machine that was manufactured 36 yoaro ago
■PRIOR TO 1950."
Action in Arizona
Dear Rosanna,
We have the reels spinning in Arizona finally. The Bill
has been written and introduced into the legislature
(copy enclosed) as of February 10. The Bill went before
the Environmental Affairs Committee on February 24
and passed 14-0. Yesterday the Bill went before the
Judiciary Committee and passed 12-0.
The Bill now goes to the Rules Committee, then to the
floor of the House. The next step is the Senate. I am in
great need of support from Arizona's collectors or
would be collectors. I have personally hired an attorney
to develop and handle this Bill and all of the details of
nursing it through the legislature. I have contacted all of
the collectors I know of and nearly all have been able to
contribute some towards this important cause. I feel
there are many more collectors across the state who
would be pleased to know we are hard at work trying to
get this Bill passed and would be more than happy to be
a part of it by contributing to help defray the cost of this
effort. The fee is $5,000 — to date I have raised $1,350.
Thanks for your help. Your magazine is fantastic and
has proven to be a big influence in educating some of
our legislators to the great movement nationwide to
preserve and allow the collecting of these important
machines which not only have important historical
significance but are true works of art. Hopefully Arizona
will be number 31.
Sincerely,
Anxious in Arizona
The BUI
Introduced by Majority of Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT
RELATING TO CRIMES; PRESCRIBING EXEMPTION FROM
CRIMINAL CLASSIFICATION FOR ANTIQUE SLOT
MACHINES NOT BEING USED FOR GAMING PURPOSES,
AND AMENDING SECTION 13-3302, ARIZONA REVISED
And A Letter Received
STATUTES.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 13-3302, Arizona Revised Statutes, is
Dear Mrs. Harris,
amended to read:
I am enclosing a copy of the revised house bill #176
currently in the Montana legislature. Dan Yardley told
me it passed the house with little or no opposition. The
only change was to change the 25 year qualification to
pre 1950 machines. Yardley used Richard Bueschel's
format in "The One Hundred Most Collectable Slot
13-3302. Conducting gaming by slot machine, punchboard
or other device; classification; definition
Machines," Volume II as a guide. The bill should come
up before the senate, possibly this week. Yardley
doesn't expect much problem in getting it through. I
have sent him copies of "Coin Slot" and a copy of
"Loose Change" featuring Bueschel's article "Its Time
value is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
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htt it p to Dan Yardley. Representative, Montana
House of Representatives, State Capitol, Helena, MT
59601. Thank you for your interest.
Encouraged in Montana
© The International Arcade Museum
APRIL 1981
A. A person who knowingly deals, carries on, opens or
causes to be opened, or who conducts, either as owner,
proprietor or employee, whether for hire or not, any slot
machine, punchboard or machine of like character, whether
played for money, checks, credits or other representative of
B. IT IS NOT A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION TO POS
SESS, DEAL IN OR SELL ANTIQUE SLOT MACHINES IF THE
MACHINES ARE NOT USED FOR GAMING PURPOSES. AS
USED IN THIS SECTION, "ANTIQUE SLOT MACHINE"
INCLUDES ONLY MACHINES WHICH ARE AT LEAST
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD.
Sec. 2. Emergency
To preserve the public peace, health and safety it is neces
sary that this act become immediately operative. It is therefore
declared to be an emergency measure, to take effect as
provided by law.
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THE COIN SLOT - 27