Vintage Slot Machine

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Slots made before 1951 did not have lighted or plastic fronts, except for the Jennings Sun Chief models. They were metal and wood, not electronic. Most of the slot machines from the 1890's to 1940's were made by only a few manufacturers: Jennings, Mills, Pace, Watling, Caille and Superior. The original machines were created around 1906, and have a devout following among slot machine collectors and gaming experts. Many slot fans choose to refurbish their antique slot machines, to keep them in pristine condition. The antique slot machines business is a roaring trade, with a niche market of highly motivated buyers and sellers.

Mechanical Slot Machines For Sale

My name is Richard Bright and I have been restoring antique slot machines for over 35 years, you could say I have repaired or restored at least 500 antique slot machines in my lifetime. As a Professional Firefighter ' Lieutenant' now 'Retired', I work twenty-four hour shifts, which has given me plenty of time to devote to restoring and repairing antique slot machines. Whether it is small repairs or full restorations, no job is too big or too small. I have traveled all around the country in order to buy, repair or sell my antique slot machines. This business is set around a very small circle of qualified people to do this kind of work. I feel if you treat the customer right and gain their confidence by doing good work, they will be a return customer in the future. The slot machines we restore are restored the right way to the customer specifications, the first time. When a customer purchases a slot machine from me, I offer lifetime guarantee, as long as you own the slot machine, providing you bring it to me for repairs. There are not too many people in this business that will make an offer like that and actually stand by it. We have a large inventory of parts for antique slot machines. In the case of repairs and restorations, there is a 99% chance the part will be replaced with an original part, instead of a reproduction. Machines weigh any where from 75-100 pounds, measurements 16'X16'X 28' height. There is a 10% restocking fee on all returns.








We will offer assistance any time you need it, just by picking up the phone or through e-mail, whatever is easiest for the customer.
Vintage slot machine parts

Due to laws regulating the sale of antique slot machines Bright's Antique Slot Machine Restorations will not sell to individuals located in the following states: Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Last Updated: 02-20-2021
Featured Items

1935 Bally
Reliance Dice Machine 5 cent

1932 Jennings
Little Duke w/ Gumball Vendor Penny

1935 Jennings
Prosperity 5 cent

1935 Jennings
Golf Ball Vender 25 cent

1937 Jennings
Hunting Scene 25 cent

1947 Jennings
Standard Chief 25 cent

1947 Jennings
Standard Chief 50 cent

1949 Jennings
Club Chief 50 cent

1949 Jennings
Sweepstake 25 cent

1958 Jennings
Buckaroo 5 cent

1929 Mills
FOK 5 cent

1933 Mills
War Eagle 5 cent

1933 Mills
Lion Head 5 cent

1934 Mills
Firebird Penny

1935 Mills
Chevron 10 cent

1936 Mills
Castle Front Penny

1936 Mills
Futurity 5 cent

1936 Mills
Chevron Penny

1938 Mills
Horse Head Bonus 25 cent

1938 Mills
Melon Bell 5 cent

1947 Mills
Hashmark 25 cent

1948 Mills
Bonus Hi Top 25 cent

1948 Mills
Blue Bell 5 cent

1948 Mills
Bonus Hi Top 5 cent

1948 Mills
Black Beauty 10 cent

1959 Mills
Hi top 7-7-7 $1.00

1938 Watling
Rolatop Vendor 5 cent

1938 Watling
Cherry Front 5 cent

1948 Watling
Checker Board 10 cent

Owning a vintage slot machine is one of those fun yet daunting ideas. Many old school one-armed bandits are beautifully designed and instant conversation pieces. Plus slot fans who own a machine don’t ever have to worry about losing money to the house.

Still, most antique machinery breaks down or wears out eventually and finding a repair person who knows how to fix a piece of equipment that’s over 50 years old can be tough. Thankfully, antique slot machine enthusiasts have figured out how to use the internet and uploaded plenty of great information about repairing these mechanical marvels.

Slots Of Montana For Sale

Newer slots will require you to know a bit about computer circuitry, but the classics just need a screwdriver, wrench and a magic touch. (OK, you probably need more tools than that.) Watch the videos below to understand how the slot machines work and what’s required for common repairs. Even if you’re not ready to plunk down a grand or more for a classic slot machine, you’ll probably get a kick out of understanding what makes those coin swallowers tick. If you want to quickly itch your scratch for playing slots, you can also check out an online casino likeRoyal Vegas Online Slots. Finally, enthusiasts who are serious about buying a vintage machine may want to take a look at the Antique Slot Machine Pricing Guide.

Charles August Fey, a Bavaria-born inventor, was living in San Francisco when he invented his first gambling machine in 1984. His games grew to be so popular at local bars, he quit his day job and opened a factory to start mass producing them, most notably the Liberty Bell machines in 1899. A lot of the functionality from that early game remained in place through much of the 20th century. Watch this video to see the seven mechanical actions set into motion when you pull back the bandit’s arm. The inner workings are probably a little more complex than you expect.

Vintage Slot Machine Games


Given that a lot of old slot machines are hand built, it isn’t surprising that coins can get jammed on their way through the mechanism. Big warning: If your machine jams, don’t force the arm or you can break, twist or damage a part inside. Different models and makes tend to have common jam points. The Mills model shown in the above video can have coins stuck in the “elevator” section that displays the last five coins dropped into the machine. Getting the slot working again can be as simple as cleaning the gunk off of an old part. You just need to be smart when you’re disassembling and reassembling the machinery.

Okay, there are plenty of more places where a coin can get stuck and the above video demonstrates how to fix a variety of jams. It also explains how to disassemble the major parts of the machine and where common problem areas are.

Curious how an antique slot machine knows how much money a winner gets? This video shows the punch-card like communication that trips payouts and how. If you ever need to replace the reel symbols or calibrate the machine you’ll need to understand how these work. Even if you don’t ever plan on owning a machine, the metallic “circuitry” is interesting to see.

Antique Slot Machine Values

Want to own a modern slot machine? New ones have plenty more bells, whistles and dings, and also a lot more advanced parts. If you plan on getting one, you may want to have an idea of what’s inside. In addition to the classic reels, there are speakers, motherboards filled with programming chips and plenty of wires. Unless you have a way with a soldering iron you probably won’t try and fix it. But in case you do, here’s a clip from Discovery showing what’s inside.

Vintage Slot Machine Repair

Did you know newer slot machines are smart enough to test themselves when a problem happens? This video shows you the procedure for having the machine check its own system. The host’s desert dry delivery is also enough to make this vid worth a watch.