New, not so new, and antique slot machines

[Yoeddy1]

So we all know that the antiques will bring a pretty penny, but in terms of fun factor, what's your preference? 

1.  Would you rather play in a room of full of antique slots? 
2.  Do you prefer the lights, music and and winning sounds of today's slots? 
3.  Or are you one of those that's somewhere in between and likes the sound of pulling the arm and the bells on an old Bally electromechanical machine?

Me?  I can appreciate the antiques and the craftsmanship involved with them, but I'd be bored to death with them.  But like fine art, the antiques are probably meant to be admired, and not played as much.  Electromechanical machines...yeah, they're ok, but the fun factor for me would not stick for very long.  Give me a current machine any day.  Curious to see if the responses are a mixed bag.

Thanks,
Jason

[rickh]

I prefer the old quarter machines... like in the 60s and 70s.... we played them in one place in Laughlin, and I filled 2 buckets with quarters.

[StatFreak]

I prefer the old quarter machines... like in the 60s and 70s.... we played them in one place in Laughlin, and I filled 2 buckets with quarters.

That's what's missing today. Downtown Reno used to be a great place to gamble. All of the casinos were lined up and most didn't even have any doors -- just a wall of air that acted as a barrier to keep the temperature inside controlled. You could watch all the old ladies (okay and everyone else, too) walking around with buckets of coins from place to place as they played the various machines. All coin. No bills or tickets or other BS. The casinos were filled with the noise of coins and other gambling sounds.

Hey, I like many of the newer machines; many have great bonus rounds and killer sound. But let's face it, they were designed to please the current generation that were weaned on video games. That's what they are: very expensive (to play) video games. Young people also want games that are faster and more intense because they're used to listening to quick sound bites from their televisions, multitasking their lives and jobs, multitasking on their computers, browsing the super-fast internet, and communicating with friends through instant text messaging -- and in some cases, doing all of them at the same time

I still prefer physical three-reel slots when I actually want a chance to win some money. I'd rather put $10 into a two-coin $5 three-reel machine than 900 pennies into a five-reel gazillion line video slot.

"Hey, I just won 43627 coins!!"
"Great! How much is that, exactly?"
"Uh, $436, I guess."
"How much is it costing you per spin?"
"Nine dollars"
"Let's hit the buffet."

or

"Hey, I just won 600 coins!"
"Great! How much is that, exactly?"
"Well, it's $3000!" 
"How much is it costing you per spin?
"Ten bucks!" 
"Let's go to Le Cirque!"

[Yoeddy1]

I prefer the old quarter machines... like in the 60s and 70s.... we played them in one place in Laughlin, and I filled 2 buckets with quarters.

Hey, I like many of the newer machines; many have great bonus rounds and killer sound. But let's face it, they were designed to please the current generation that were weaned on video games.

Stat, I agree.  I'm pushing 40, and I was heavy into the video arcade craze throughout my childhood...guess that's why I prefer the newer machines.  Interesting thing...I love a 2 or 3 coin 3 reel machine or a three reel + bonus reel, but cannot stand 5 reel machines.  Penny slots...same thing, don't like em, don't play em.  I enjoy the single line slots...5 line max.  Don't like anything over 5 line.  Love video poker too, and like I said, loved video arcade machines, but cannot stand ANY video slots. 

While I was looking for my first slot machine to own, I remember finding an early 80's or late 70's Bally electromechanical 50 cent machine locally.  The guy wanted 600 bucks for it, but it was cosmetically in rough shape.  I pulled the handle on it a few times and it was ok, but I just remember thinking, "there's no way my wife would have any fun with this eye sore."  Now, our current S2000 and Game King, I think she likes them even more than I do.  Well, maybe. 

[Buzz]

Slot machines and I came to a agreement years ago, we agreed to hate each other. Still holds true today. I don't even turn them on unless I'm working on them or someone comes over.

Here is a Pic. of one that's leaving   Tomorrow my Grandson is being promoted to Chief Petty Officer  US Navy, in San Diego, I'm going to the pinning ceremony aboard his ship and this machine is my gift to him.  I don't know if I'm doing him any favors are not!!!!       I might add I'm extremely proud of him.( even if he does calls himself a Texan )

[rickh]

My first experience with Vegas was in 5th grade.... cross country trip from PA to Calif and back... went thru Vegas and ate in a diner that had a slot machine in the booth we sat in.... circa 1967? Then I hitchhiked thru Vegas in 74, when the Mint and the other old places were all still there.  We would play the penny or nickle slots in the cheap places with free drinks, get loaded, then go into the Mint etc.... fun times.

I agree about the coupons and credits.. it isnt the same..... the buckets of quarters showed that you actually WON!!

[rickh]

Nice Buzz.... great gift!

[Yoeddy1]

Coins are a definite must, and let me say, there is NOTHING that sounds better than a crapload of sliver dollars falling into a coin tray.  PERIOD!

You are one cool grand pappy Buzz!

[CaptainHappy]

Slot machines and I came to a agreement years ago, we agreed to hate each other. Still holds true today. I don't even turn them on unless I'm working on them or someone comes over.

Here is a Pic. of one that's leaving   Tomorrow my Grandson is being promoted to Chief Petty Officer  US Navy, in San Diego, I'm going to the pinning ceremony aboard his ship and this machine is my gift to him.  I don't know if I'm doing him any favors are not!!!!       I might add I'm extremely proud of him.( even if he does calls himself a Texan )

You know that you are always welcome to stay over a couple days, rent free even!!! And yes, I DO have a coffee maker! You know my numbers! If you are too busy I understand as welll! Enjoy the Ceremony, and DO NOT try to sneak the machine on board the ship, I know that it does not have NAVY chips in it!!!

CH

[Amachanic]

Good morning... I my self have many different machines covering 60 yrs. My olderest in a Mills Castle Front Dime machine that I picked up last summer. It had not been played in 45 yrs, and it still had silver dimes it it dating back to 1935, Jackpot!!! I have 2 other mills from the 40's, and a Jennings Penny machine from the 60's. Then there are my Baily's starting with Money Honey and running through a few E Series to a Slant top from late 80's ? Then there is my Aristocrat Fantasy Five machine. I guess my favorites are the Bally Electromechanical machines from the 60's and 70's. They are not too big and fairly simple to work on..

Gary

[stayouttadabunker]

That old chrome Bally is a beauty!
Reminds me of my grandfather's car when I was a kid - big chrome bumpers and giant headlights!
Big, thin round steering wheels and whitewall tires...lol

Glad to hear the boy is moving up the ladder Buzz!
My son is in the USAF...he just got moved out to the Iraq area yesterday from Anchorage, Alaska.
Talk about a drastic temperature change he's gonna meet! lol

[Buzz]

Slot machines and I came to a agreement years ago, we agreed to hate each other. Still holds true today. I don't even turn them on unless I'm working on them or someone comes over.

Here is a Pic. of one that's leaving   Tomorrow my Grandson is being promoted to Chief Petty Officer  US Navy, in San Diego, I'm going to the pinning ceremony aboard his ship and this machine is my gift to him.  I don't know if I'm doing him any favors are not!!!!       I might add I'm extremely proud of him.( even if he does calls himself a Texan )

You know that you are always welcome to stay over a couple days, rent free even!!! And yes, I DO have a coffee maker! You know my numbers! If you are too busy I understand as welll! Enjoy the Ceremony, and DO NOT try to sneak the machine on board the ship, I know that it does not have NAVY chips in it!!!

CH

Mark thanks for the offer, but I have to take the big truck to Vegas this weekend and move a carnival ride back to Bakersfield.
I was going to give Richard one of these Big Time Pay machines, but something is wrong with the two I have, I think they miss named them and the name should have been No Time Pay. You don't ever have to worry about wearing out the 4 reel, the only time it spins is on boot up. I'm going to look around for a topper with a Lemon on it. (You know what that's not a bad idea ) look good in a game room.

[Buzz]

Bunker   I was in Libya for a year and a half, if Iraq is anything like Libya, Anchorage is going to be paradise for him.

[golflover]

I'm a video poker nut but the warden is the slot machine nut. She always liked the 2 coin blazing 7's diamond line so that is what I hunted down and got her. She still plays it everyday, but has gotten to like the bonus round video slots now also. I love my 70'ish Balley Big Times Win penny slot. It is a 6 coin one line and is fun to play. no music with it but watching all those reels spin is fun. Having just picked up the gamemeaker bar top I'll have my video poker again since my universal poker machine has officially bit the dust (lloks like I will be parting it out soon). Warden will also have some video bonus round slots on the gamemaker too. Still my goal to acquire penny, nickle, dime,, quarter and 50 cent machines just as banks for pocket change. A mixture of old and new is fine with me.

[FORDSBS]

I spend to much time in casino's year ago putting coins in & getting dirty hands.
I like the newer machines that take bill's & have bonus.

[StatFreak]

Slot machines and I came to a agreement years ago, we agreed to hate each other. Still holds true today. I don't even turn them on unless I'm working on them or someone comes over.

Here is a Pic. of one that's leaving   Tomorrow my Grandson is being promoted to Chief Petty Officer  US Navy, in San Diego, I'm going to the pinning ceremony aboard his ship and this machine is my gift to him.  I don't know if I'm doing him any favors are not!!!!       I might add I'm extremely proud of him.( even if he does calls himself a Texan )

Buzz, congratulate Richard for me.

Mark thanks for the offer, but I have to take the big truck to Vegas this weekend and move a carnival ride back to Bakersfield.
I was going to give Richard one of these Big Time Pay machines, but something is wrong with the two I have, I think they miss named them and the name should have been No Time Pay. You don't ever have to worry about wearing out the 4 reel, the only time it spins is on boot up. I'm going to look around for a topper with a Lemon on it. (You know what that's not a bad idea ) look good in a game room.

Based on my play at your house and at Ashyron's, I have to agree with you!! NO Times Pay would be a great name for them, unless you count the occasional mixed bars with a small multiplier.    Actually, I did get some higher wins multiplied, but even those pays weren't that great.

Come to think if it, a lemon topper would be a great addition to that game.    If you want to be more subtle, put up a topper with a picture of an Edsel. 
(The front grille of a 1958 Edsel was said by some to resemble "an Olds sucking a lemon")

Stat

[Super Joker]

I like them all. I think it's fun having various machines to play with. I've got an old em, s, s+ and fortune 1 that are up and working. Sometimes I don't mind dropping coins, sometimes I just want to press "max bet". But, for continued play, it will be the newer machines. I also don't like the 2,000-coin-max-to-qualify-for-bonus penny machines, but there are some of those that are fun to look at - or play, if it's not in a casino. It's like my pinballs - got an old one, and a new one. New one gets more play, but I ain't getting rid of my old one.

Also agree that 3-reelers, or on occasion, 3+1 are the way to go. I do like the penny/nickle liners, anything more than that, I might as well play the $5 machine in the high limit area and eat my fill of shrimp coctails. 

LOL, I ain't that old, but I can remember when the strip in Reno was casino-to-casino, none of those souvenier or liquor or pawn shops. Lots of fun. Drink and food coupons. Noisy, like a party. Change people. Rolls of quarters, and looking for silver quarters in the rolls.

But let us not forget coin-jams, coin-out, hopper refills, waiting forever for hand-pay jackpots, etc.

[StatFreak]

...
LOL, I ain't that old, but I can remember when the strip in Reno was casino-to-casino, none of those souvenier or liquor or pawn shops. Lots of fun. Drink and food coupons. Noisy, like a party. Change people. Rolls of quarters, and looking for silver quarters in the rolls.

But let us not forget coin-jams, coin-out, hopper refills, waiting forever for hand-pay jackpots, etc.

I looked at downtown Reno recently using Google's street view. It was very sad to see it all run down and full of those pawn shops.


Sure, the coin days had it's negative side, too. Of course, waiting for your hand pay slowed down your pace and kept you from losing while you waited -- and you could still ask for drinks.

The first time I ever braved a $5 machine I got lucky and hit a 100 coin payout not long after sitting down. The machine ran out of coins partway through. Then the guy sitting next to me hit something and his machine ran out of coins trying to pay out. So we sat there drinking and chewing the fat while we waited for them to come and fill both of our hoppers.

Not only did I have a memorable experience, but in waiting for the rest of my $500 I realized that it would probably be a good idea to get out of there while I was still ahead, so when I finally got paid off, I took my rack of winnings and the rest of my buy-in and cashed out without another pull. I left the three yellow "five over bar" symbols sitting in the window.

Today the machine would have just racked up the credits on the meter and I'd probably have ended up losing half or more of it back before cashing out. I also would have lost the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the other guy.

On the other hand, the newest video slots have fantastic sound and animation, and have fun bonus rounds which make the games more interesting. Still, most of the time I'd rather stand behind someone else and enjoy the show at their expense.

Home play is a different matter, since I'm not worried about being slowly bled to death when I play a bag-full pf pennies per spin. That Denver Duck video game bonus round looks like fun!  I also like to play the new games free online.

[golflover]

Stat now you sound like me!! I stand behind the warden and watch the game and everyone else playing. Alot cheaper and the casino still  gives me free drinks!!! They  must know how much she looses!!!!