IGT Big Bertha High Limit Poker Machine

[mwade109]

I purchased a IGT Big Bertha High Limit Poker $1.00 token machine on ebay,  (works great but was a bear to transport!) and would like to convert it to a $1.00 gold coin machine.  Basically updating it to todays money and keeping the same denomination.  Is this possible?  I can post better pics if needed, inside and/or outside, this is the only one I have right now and it was taken with my phone.

[StatFreak]

I just saw one of these on Craigslist, although the seller is asking way too much IMO:

http://mohave.craigslist.org/ele/1050617736.html


Welcome to NLG mwade109 and congratulations on your new purchase.
It looks like a nice machine! 

I believe that the newer gold dollars would need a small-coin hopper and coin mech. Your machine would currently have a large coin setup if it's using dollar tokens. I'm not too familiar with the Big Berthas, but you should be able to convert to a small coin setup. However, I'm not aware of anyone using the gold dollar coins, though, so i don't know if there are parts to change a small coin hopper/coin-in setup to work with these coins.

One of our vendors or expert members should know if a gold dollar setup is possible. Hopefully, someone will post soon with an answer.

If the bill validator is working then you could use paper money and still use the dollar tokens. Our vendors have the tokens for sale as well.

[blueridgeslots]

Yes, the Gold Dollar parts are available, and do use the small coin parts and coin mech

[Neonkiss]

I have a machine that I converted to the newer Gold presidential  dollar series coins. It uses Ike's in the top coin acceptor and the gold coins in the lower door acceptor . Then pays out in the Gold dollar coins.
Use a Susan B Anthony coin acceptor if you don't have a comparator and Quarter wheel and shelf.

You might think about using Gold Dollar tokens since those small dollar coins will look funny in the giant machine. 


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ze4Yp26bxNI&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/ze4Yp26bxNI&rel=0</a>

[mwade109]

I only have one place to put coins,  here is some better pics of the machine and the coin areas,  my concern is where the coin is put in,  it goes into the coin accepter on the left whereas all the other ones I saw accept the coins on the top right.  This accepter not only takes them in on the top right but drops them out on the bottom left. 

[mwade109]

The coin accepter and the hopper

[Neonkiss]

Looks like a standard Bally Hopper.
I like the coin in casting with the backlit $1.00
I would stick with the large $1.00 tokens and if you want gold tokens they can be had.
The larger coin will make a much nicer sound especially when cashing out. You'll get that big Clank, Clank sound

[mwade109]

Your right about that,  theres nothing like the sound of the $1.00 tokens dropping.  Can you point me in a direction to purchase some more?
Mike

Looks like a standard Bally Hopper.
I like the coin in casting with the backlit $1.00
I would stick with the large $1.00 tokens and if you want gold tokens they can be had.
The larger coin will make a much nicer sound especially when cashing out. You'll get that big Clank, Clank sound

[Neonkiss]

If your not in an immediate rush for them I might be able to help.
I have a line on 32,000 of them.  Brand New, Never Used and yes they are Gold.
These were minted for a casino that never opened. I'm working on a better price than I was quoted at first but since their un-circulated I don't know if he'll move on the price.

[Jim]

Mike    your assessment of the situation is correct!!!    That's a standard coin in head for a IGT  M machine   someone may have a quarter head that can be reamed out to accept a SBA or presidential dollar.   so the input problem can be solved.

Look on your S+ machine, you will see the bracket that holds your coin comparator has a 4 plastic  mounting brackets, there are two positions for these, all the way in (for dollar mechs) and all the way out for Quarter mechs.  They just flip the coin comparator around  and it lines up with the coin optics, so if that bracket is in the Big Bertha then it should work.

The hopper is no problem, we can make it pay out anything from dimes to dollars.

so the main issue would be the coin head,  worse case would be to fashion a S+ coin head on the machine and convert it to accept 50 cent pieces and then you can use your dollars coins.

But Neonkiss is right   how much money will you have invested to buy dollar coins versus the cost of dollar tokens   andddddddd  the dollar coins are subject to shrinkage.. 

In any case whichever way you choose  someone here at NLG  can help

Jim

[StatFreak]

Just speaking personally, it's a grand old machine; I'd leave it as is and use the large dollars. That backlit coin insertion plate looks great, and you'll have the right look and feel for less money using the dollar tokens.

[mwade109]

I think I will end up keeping it with the tokens.  I also picked up a .25 pe+ and I find myself enjoying the Big Bertha much more often and there is just no comparison to the heavy dollar tokens shooting out of the machine. 

Neonkiss,  I would be interested in the gold tokens if you get them.

The backlit coin insertion does look outstanding in person and, I don't know if you can see it in the pics but above it is a red plastic arrow pointing toward the coin insert that has three bulbs that should light it up nice when I can figure why they have no power. The only other known problems are,  as you can see in the pic where the coin mech is, there are two brown wires hanging behind it with a small plug on it.  I cant find where these should go......YET!  The candle don't light...yet and the monitor/tv does not have a horizontal size adjustment and the screen is way too wide and goes behind the bezel.  I have it centered as best as I can but it cuts off some on the right & left,  the most notable is where it says how many coins have been inserted,  you cant read the number.  Other than that.....it looks and works great!

I will only have time to play it and not work on it for the next couple days as Sunday I am off to Vegas for a week.
My toys seem to be getting bigger,  next thing....one of those big slot machines from Vegas,  not a Bertha but one of the really big ones, anyone have an extra one!

Thanks All.
Mike

[StatFreak]

...My toys seem to be getting bigger,  next thing....one of those big slot machines from Vegas,  not a Bertha but one of the really big ones, anyone have an extra one!

Thanks All.
Mike

I keep a spare in my trunk for just such occasions.
It sounds like most of those problems are minor. When you get back from Vegas the members here will be happy to help you get them sorted out.

[jay]

There have been a number of the really big ones offered up for free or next to free. Just because of the size.

If you are serious just keep your eyes open.....

[Rep]

Man it's been ages since I saw one of those anywhere around here! That coin insertion plate with the lit $1 on it looks SHARP! What an awesome machine!

[mwade109]

There have been a number of the really big ones offered up for free or next to free. Just because of the size.

If you are serious just keep your eyes open.....

I am always looking for something interesting like that. I was looking at one in Vegas, Mandalay Bay I believe it was, (it's a bit fuzzy!) I just had to put a 20.00 in it and pull the big arm....changed the twenty into 542.00 !  Had to cash out right there.  If anyone ever notices one of these for sale,  please let me know.

As far as Big Bertha... she is working well and I play it every day, with the 1.00 tokens.  Any refurbishing is on hold as I picked up a few S-2000's and need to post a few questions about them.  Mike

[mwade109]

Sad to announce, My Big Bertha is down,  Hope someone can help me with a monitor problem.  I will post in the monitor area.

[Bobodude]

There have been a number of the really big ones offered up for free or next to free. Just because of the size.

If you are serious just keep your eyes open.....

I am always looking for something interesting like that. I was looking at one in Vegas, Mandalay Bay I believe it was, (it's a bit fuzzy!) I just had to put a 20.00 in it and pull the big arm....changed the twenty into 542.00 !  Had to cash out right there.  If anyone ever notices one of these for sale,  please let me know.

As far as Big Bertha... she is working well and I play it every day, with the 1.00 tokens.  Any refurbishing is on hold as I picked up a few S-2000's and need to post a few questions about them.  Mike

I have seen a couple of de-commissioned  Big Bertha reel slots here in Nevada. I will be visiting them next week so I will check on them for you.