Recommend me a book...

[humperdingle]

Looking for recommendations for a good book for a newbie to slot machine ownership... Basic repairs, how they operate etc.

Or am I better just sticking to online material??

Thanks.

[badpenny]

A lot of the on line stuff is very good and of course free, you'll find lots of links to such stuff if you explore the threads on here.
Have a play with the Search facility and you'll probably benefit from the section on tips for beginners.

As for books, I find them essential, they are so useful .... you can plonk machines on them so you don't scratch the family table.

Do you want books that tell the history and development?
Lots of glossy photos with damp proof pages so you can wipe the dribble off?
Technical manuals?
Bandits?
Allwins?
Pinballs?

There is a library section on the forum as well.

Badpenny

[dutchboy]

Humperdingle, i have a link of a site that's very interesting. I don't remember if i found it here on pennymachines or find it myself. They are showing how to strip a mechanism with pictures. Very usefull .
http://slotrestoration.blogspot.nl/2010 ... nning.html
Greetings

[treefrog]

Not seen that before and it is very informative - one of those blog sites that one day will disappear and the information with it. Interesting the view on WD40 as it has been posted here and I have seen it on Motorcycle sites. I am still a huge advocate for clean lubrication, of machines that is. Of course it would useless in an arcade situation, but occasional home use - far less messy.

[coppinpr]

As to a book, BP is right, you will need to know what direction you're going to take in this hobby. As this is a small and yet varied hobby, books tend to be of two kinds: coffee table picture or technical. I'm a bandit man for the most part so the Mills and Jennings Compete Guides are essential to me. If you want a history with good illustrations then Bueschel's Lemons, Cherries and Bell-Fruit-Gum is very good. A book I particularly like (because it falls into my area of interest I guess) is The Guide to Trade Stimulator and Counter Games, a great book for identifying trade stims and, although a bit out of date now, gives at least an idea of which machines are more valuable than others.

[humperdingle]

Thanks - I'll take a wee look at the suggestions.

My interest - at least initially - will be based around getting to know my first machine. I've had a good old search both here and the wider net for an instruction manual of sorts but no luck so far. If anyone can help in this regard, I'd be grateful... It's a Jubilee Dollar Drop 'Deluxe'. Can't seem to find a huge amount online about them except that they were made in Oz by Nutt & Muddle... Great name... I must find out if the 'Nutt' is related in any way to a cousin of mine. I know they had family out there.

[badpenny]

There's a lot on this forum regarding Jubilee and Nutt & Muddle, if you use The Search link at the top of the page.
I don't know the Dollar Drop 'Deluxe' but it's likely to be a standard model of machine from a series that were all identical apart from the name.
Is it purely mechanical?
Is it Electro-mechanical?
Electronic?
Does it have lights, but doesn't have to be plugged in to play it?

Photos?

Once we know which type it is we'll be able to help you better and Tree Frog can tell you how many he already has down to the nearest 20/30.

[humperdingle]

This is the Jubilee - Bought from Henry Powell Automatics. No idea what parts are original etc. Eagerly anticipating its arrival, though
As far as I'm aware, entirely mechanical with no lighting.

[humperdingle]

It's HERE!!

[badpenny]

OK, I guess it's what we all expected it to be.
Bomb proof mechanism.
Standard three wheel mechanism without added complications of jackpot bank(s)
I've had a couple over the years.
What denomination is it on?

[humperdingle]

It has been converted to 20p... Presumably from 1p originally?

Now I just need to fill her up! Not easy when you haven't made provision for 20p pieces (sigh).

[badpenny]

I seem to remember the pair I had were on 1np.
Are the payout slides metal or plastic?

[humperdingle]

I'll check in the morning.

I'm not sure how the 'Dollar Drop' bit works... The machine has a payout slide filled with large brass tokens - maybe 10 or so. These are marked with "Samson Award", some kind of redeemable token?

Not sure on what combo these would pay out on and how many?

[badpenny]

I imagine there will be another shorter payout tube set in front of the main one.
This holds the tokens and has a linkage attached to the top payout slide, when that one retracts it'll release a single token as well.

[humperdingle]

Yeh, they're lined-up in a 'rolling formation' in front of the payout tube. I'm assuming the three Jubilees or three melons will payout a token. I need to rig the reels and have a try.
Found one of the 'Mystery payouts', though - a random orange / melon / jubilee paid out 10 coins!

[badpenny]

Same principle or is it principal?
Do you know how to force a win by stopping the clock mid spin?

[humperdingle]

Do you know how to force a win by stopping the clock mid spin?

I've read that you need to shove a screwdriver in to the spinning 'fan' mechanism?

Really need to get the whole mech out, but I can see the spinning fan (is that what you're calling the clock?) from the front but don't want to be too... 'Hasty'.

[badpenny]

You're on the right track certainly, but we recommend pushing a duster into the fan as it's a lot kinder.
Take care when removing it as well.

[humperdingle]

Ok, had a quick play around. The three melons or three Jubilees pay a single token. According to the award card, this is a 25p prize - bit of a jackpot in the penny days!
I'll need to sort out a 'Special award' sticker as an overlay.

[humperdingle]

Oh... Any chance you'd be able to enlighten me on how to trick the machine into thinking i've fed it a 20p? I.e. To test the mechanism when the door is open.