Universal machine on eBay

[dpalmi]

Hello all!

FYI - there is currently a working Universal machine posted on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1970s-UNIVERSAL-25-CENT-SLOT-MACHINE-L-K_W0QQitemZ190257014675.

Dan #2

[uniman]

That is a nice looking old Uni, nice glass, cabinet, reel strips, except.....

It is no older than 1985.  Game number is 8518. (Universal dated their games - 8518)
The reel glass has no window for the credit meter, yet the LED board behind the glass I believe has one.
This means that glass came from a machine that had no "Bet One", "Spin", and "Max Bet" buttons. This machine's door has these buttons. Why have Bet One and Max Bet if there are no credits?? 
And the buttons have red inserts. Never seen that before, but could be original, but doubt it.
The power supply looks like a Yellow Dot as there is a white and gray wire from the power supply to the door not in the big shrink wrap bundle. These were added to power 110v ballast lighting from Yellow Dots. Yellow Dot power supplies came out in the late 80's, I believe. Original machine would have had a Green Dot.
It has a high speed hopper - YUCK!
Can't see any tower light.
The mechanical comparitor is cool. And I see black instead of gray coin-in optics, not sure what that means? All I have ever seen was gray, but Universal did make black too.
Ok, I better stop now, been around Uni's just a bit too long!!! 
 

[Joeylc]

That is a nice looking old Uni, nice glass, cabinet, reel strips, except.....


Ok, I better stop now, been around Uni's just a bit too long!!! 
 

This is why we are glad you are the Moderator: of Universal Reel/Video Games. 

[Thor777]

That is a nice looking old Uni, nice glass, cabinet, reel strips, except.....

It is no older than 1985.  Game number is 8518. (Universal dated their games - 8518)
The reel glass has no window for the credit meter, yet the LED board behind the glass I believe has one.
This means that glass came from a machine that had no "Bet One", "Spin", and "Max Bet" buttons. This machine's door has these buttons. Why have Bet One and Max Bet if there are no credits?? 
And the buttons have red inserts. Never seen that before, but could be original, but doubt it.
The power supply looks like a Yellow Dot as there is a white and gray wire from the power supply to the door not in the big shrink wrap bundle. These were added to power 110v ballast lighting from Yellow Dots. Yellow Dot power supplies came out in the late 80's, I believe. Original machine would have had a Green Dot.
It has a high speed hopper - YUCK!
Can't see any tower light.
The mechanical comparitor is cool. And I see black instead of gray coin-in optics, not sure what that means? All I have ever seen was gray, but Universal did make black too.
Ok, I better stop now, been around Uni's just a bit too long!!! 
 

Soooo...All in All do you thing it's a good deal?...   I have only IGT machines and I live in Arizona so pickup would not be a problem but I would like your opnion as to value...   you seem to know about these machines   

[blueridgeslots]

$400 is pricey, but since you can pick up better deal, I sold 80 Uni's all coin tested and nice for $135 a few years ago, I tried to sell working games last year in Utah and also give away Parts but nobody wanted to pay the shipping, ended giving a machine away with stand purchase for $35 ea.

[Thor777]

$400 is pricey, but since you can pick up better deal, I sold 80 Uni's all coin tested and nice for $135 a few years ago, I tried to sell working games last year in Utah and also give away Parts but nobody wanted to pay the shipping, ended giving a machine away with stand purchase for $35 ea.

   You know with all the machines not sold or bought because of "shipping" mabey i should start a slot machine delivery service...

I know it has stopped me from purchasing a few machines I wanted...

[blueridgeslots]

Well, I did it until Fuel went over 3 bucks with my own Rig's, every 6-8 weeks coast to coast April to November, I will be glad to sell you a 53' Trailer with 2 floors and portable forkift, you can haul 236 Upright Slots, or 130 Slant Tops, includes ramp to ground/unload, I will tell you, that you need strong legs to pull up a slant top from the ground though, trust me

[uniman]

Most all Universals are not worth much. Old machines, no bill validators, parts not available.
And they have that stigma of Made in Japan
That one has what looks like a nice cabinet, reel strips appear in great shape, not faded, and the reel glass decals such as the "Play 3 Coins" not burnt, looks like a replacement. The 24v bulbs usually cook the decals with time. Overall pretty nice for an old machine.
But it does look like it has been pieced together, not totally original. If it was totally original it still wouldn't make a difference in value to most.
However some people have sold their Uni's for a decent price, right Depalmi ?

It was the mid 90's Ultra Series that got me into Uni's. Short lived in the casinos, but a heck of a nice machine with extra wide backlit reels, stereo sound, and JCM DBV.
They all have the old Z80 processor and it's not too hard read to the software. One could almost write their own games. 

[dpalmi]

However some people have sold their Uni's for a decent price, right Dpalmi ?

Hello Uniman!

That's right.  I sold my Universal round top (see pic) back in March for $500.  Keep in mind, the guy I sold it to didn't know much about slots - to him, a slot machine was a slot machine.  Considering I originally paid $450 for it, I can't complain - although I had to drive 5 hours each way to get it!  I have since replaced it with a IGT S2000 round top.  For the time I had it, about 7 years, it was a great machine and gave me no trouble what so ever except for a jammed coin once and awhile.

So why did I sell it?  First, no bill acceptor.  It was a pain to have to keep feeding coins into it.  And, you can only feed as many coins as the game is at a time.  So my machine was a 2 coin machine - only could feed two coins at a time.  Only way to get credits was to rack up your wins.  Second, it's impossible to find different game kits to swap the game.  So whatever the machine is when you buy it - chances are you won't be able to change it.  With IGTs, game kits are easy to find and affordable - I think I have 4-5 kits for my machines.  Besides that, it was a great machine and I have no other complaints.

Would I buy one again?  Well, if I didn't already have 2 IGT's and it wasn't easy for me to get an IGT, sure!  And considering I am in a un-friendly slot state...any slot you can find close by might be the only slot you can get your hands on.

Dan #2