New Life Games Tech Forums

Hi everyone! After being fascinated with mechanical slots since I was a young kid, I just got my first real mechanical slot. It needs a bit of help but I'm having a lot of fun learning how it works and carefully taking things apart to clean the thick layer of dirt, grease, and sawdust (yes, sawdust!) out of everything. So far so good, but am wondering how to align the reels correctly (replacing the strips)? Also, the pay table (glass that shows what combination pays what) is missing...does anyone have a picture or scan so I can make a new one?
Thanks.
Chris

Well, you better post some pictures of this Sega machine... :89-
I never knew Sega even made slot machines?  :128-
ADD>> I did a google for it ...are these what you're talking about?>>>

Holy crap Batman!!! Trade Stimulators!

I have a picture of one in the "Toppers" section. The one with the homemade topper!

I found it...I remember that one!

OK, I almost forgot about the topper. This thing came with a crazy "Wizard Of Oz" lightbox topper thing! Also came with another "casing" (not sure what else to call it). So, the machine in the picture has no markings as to the make or model, but the other casing is virtually identical and is clearly marked "Sega Bonanza Star". My next step here is to figure out a good paint scheme for this machine.

Boy,... that's a small topper!
If it's a plastic material encasing the lighting, you can restore it with a plastic cleaner such as this
I've copied the link to where you can get it and the ad for it>>>
http://bigdaddy-enterprises.com/index.htm (http://bigdaddy-enterprises.com/index.htm)
 Novus #1
Plastic clean and shine
Gently cleans without scratching. 
Leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static.
Resists finger marking. Contains no abrasives or harsh chemicals.
Leaves a smooth, clean, greaseless shine.   
$3.59 Each
Novus #1 - 8oz bottle

If the topper is made of painted wood, then a good paste wax will spiff it up!
 
To obtain the top dollar for this machine, only the original color scheme
will fetch you the most currency should you decide to sell it later on.
                                       OR
Google around and see what other ORIGINAL paint schemes were designed for this machine.
Choosing your own colors will decrease the value of the restoration.

Sega started life in Las Vegas in the 1950s as SErvice GAmes, a Mills dealer that used to refurbish old machines. They made their own parts because it was cheaper than authentic Mills factory spares. Later they opened offices in Spain and Japan to service US overseas military bases. The Spanish branch eventually became Circasa and the Japanese ended up specializing in video games, but in the 60s they produced mechanicals for US service clubs and the British market. Not many were sold in the US. That machine I see is a British import - you will probably find the top payout is 10 coins, in fact everything will pay 10 except the cherries. The British 2P coin is almost exactly an inch in diameter, so you may be able to make it work with quarters. Mechanically it will be identical to a Mills HiTop. The colors are original and should be crackle paint.

Those small machines aren't trade stimulators, they're working payout slot machines, a copy of the Mills Vest Pocket. The only Sega versions I've seen were chrome, very smart.

Well, it's coming along as I've gotten the mechanicals all back together and things seems to work as they should...but of course I've got new questions!

1.) When I "pull the handle" and the reels spin...the first reel goes about 1 revolution (plus or minus a symbol or 2). Is this normal? Somehow I thought it would spin longer.
2.) I took my reel strips off (they were halfway off and damaged at the start of this project). Have also had the reel assembly all apart to clean everything. How do I align the reels??

Thanks!! :)

Chris

How to align the reels? Do you mean the paper on the reel tins or the index disks, or (I hate to ask this), both?. Watch everyone run now! This can be a mess, and can take a long time trying to explain how to do it. If I can find something on it in paper I'll let you know.
Jackpot

 :138- :138- :208-

I won't run - I just did this tonight on an old Mills. Pull the handle, stop the clock, line up the jackpot holes in the disks - should only line up in one position - and let the clock go so the reels lock and the fingers drop. The innermost finger should go right through all three disks. Then align the bars on the strips to the payline. Check the other payout combinations the same way to make sure they all line up. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.

If he has right strips on right  reels,We use to import those from england in mid 70,s , if they weren,t messed with they worked good , if they came out of casino,s they paid reg pays  if from arcades and street place,s they could only pay 10on bell,s plums,

Well said OP-Bell, but the strips have to be on  the right tins  first, and if it they have more then two jackpot symbols on one reel strip, most do, some even have two jackpot symbols on two of the reels and this is were it gets hairy. On the bottom of each strip they should be numbered and you should be able to tell from strip one,two, or three. When you have the vertical payout jackpot finger through all three disks, then you need to mark or see where the jackpot symbols need to be to show on the pay line in the glass. This can all take some time to do depending if the strips and disks have all been removed and the lineup locations have not been marked.
Jackpot

10 min part  was a little lite  been there and done that many times never in 10 mins unless  reels was already in right spots, not all strips have  numbers, some guys played games with strips and disk, when we bought those old mech  slot we got them as is many times wrong reels for disk , but at 35 to 75 bucks each why bitch, :208-