Coin Slot Magazine - #084 - 1982 - February [International Arcade Museum]
By Rosanna Harris
Just before Christmas the authorities in Maryland
went into action and began confiscating slot machines
i.e., it may contain a number of components. As a
from dealers and private collectors. Our information
indicates that at least four of our people were involved
and as many as 25 machines. Maryland has a pre-1941
law and apparently the police decided to enforce it.
The real problem arose because there was a lack of
valid information. Recall the old saying, "A little bit of
knowledge is a dangerous thing." In this case it came
into full play. There are not many police officials who
(1) Any mechanical or electro-mechanical model no
longer in production (e. g, the "Chief" series by Jennings).
(2) Any mechanical or electro-mechanical machine
no longer in GENERAL USE in casinos in the United
States. (The phrase "general use" is important, as there
are a few casinos, like the Nevada Club in Reno, which
have been collectors for long. Nor are there many on
the various police forces who read many of the books
and periodicals related to our field. Because of this gap
in the knowledge, many machines are confiscated
which are perfectly within the law. We are still faced
with an educational situation.
We must admit that there are many of us who cannot
tell you the exact date of manufacture of many of the
slot machines in collections and stores today. There
are also many machines which are composites of
cases and mechanisms that were not orginally design
ed for each other. That tends to make dating a little
tricky. We also have recast pieces on the market with
original mechanisms. Now we enter a brand new area
Which part of the machine determines its date of
manufacture?
This brings us to two points of our 5 point program.
One of the most important issues at hand is that we
need a definition of either an "antique slot machine" or
of a "collectible slot machine." Mr. Louis Fischl, who
writes for us on occasion, addresses the issue in a
recent letter to us. We want to share his thoughts with
you on this vital point.
beginning, I suggest the following two:
feature older machines as a special attraction to stimu
late patronage. Reference to the United States is
important, as there are some casinos in Europe which
still use older machines.)
Ted Salveson, in the December '81 issue of Coin,
Machine Trader, stated that Arizona no longer has the
"25 year requirement for collectible slots." Can you
confirm this and obtain an exact wording of the amend
ment? It seems to me that this is a step in the right
direction which other states might consider. Under
such circumstances, a professional definition would
be especially significant
If there is sufficient interest in this project, I suggest
that a committee of editors, dealers, collectors, and (of
course!) lawyers be formed to consider all suggestions
that might be submitted and to formulate a definition
which would best serve the interests of all concerned.
Sincerely yours,
Louis J. Fischl
We positively agree with Lou and have stated our
position previously in The Coin Slot We attempted to
promote the formulation of a definition last year but it
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did not light any fires. This year must be the year of
action. With a viable definition we may find that our
third point (i.e. a 25 year law in all existing 31 states) in
our 5 point program can be attained more easily and
we may also find that those states currently working on
legislation will be able to use the Illinois law as a
pattern and have the 25 year clause included the first
time around.
Our map currently shows all of the states which have
favorable legislation in black. We are going to make a
slight change so that the states which already have a
The professional definition may be modular in form -
Continued on page 51
Dear Rosanna,
It is time to commence work on the development of a
definition of "antique" slot machine, as I suggested in
50 —THE COIN SLOT
© The International Arcade Museum
February 1982
http://www.arcade-museum.com/