Jennings Mints of Quality, finally opened!
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 4:26 pm
I bought this machine over three years ago. It's very similar to one my grandpa owned and that's what started my interest in slot machines, a long time ago.
But it was only recently that I found an old blurry picture of what he had. Sadly the machine was "lost" by my cousin. I have no clue where it ended up.
This machine has sat, working in my room. I had two locksmiths try to open the front without any luck.
YEARS later now - Monti recently recommended I buy an entry level lock picking kit, which I did. It arrived a couple days ago. I sat at Starbucks yesterday and fiddled around with it. It came with a cool clear lock to practice with. I found a website with some short videos showing the action of the basic lock. A few minutes later I was using different picks to open the clear lock. Apparently I found the right one. I inserted my torsion wrench and the pick, found the binding pin which moved the wrench a little. Then I just rubbed over the rest of the pins and the thing opened.
I finished my coffee, took my knowledge home and grabbed a "Master" padlock. I had that open in about three minutes.
So I went to my Jennings slot machine, inserted the torsion wrench and a pick. To my surprise - CLICK! I got it opened in about 40 seconds.
FINALLY I got the front panel off!
First I noticed a lot of nickels. So far, all have been ones I inserted. The machine still works but the side chute is jammed and they're all just falling inside the machine.
Then I noticed two very nice original labels. One large on on the back panel which I slid off after unlatching it (from the front). The other, smaller one was on the inside of the cabinet.
Next I noticed a "check" that appears to have been used as a washer under a thumb screw.
I'm not exactly sure how to remove the mechanism. It doesn't lift and slide out like my Mills. It was getting late anyway last night.
The lock was made by Corbin. It looks old but I'm not sure if that's an original lock or not. I already had a replacement so it's on now. I don't think Corbin locks are all that expensive. If it is original I might have it rebuilt by Dave.
It can't be that hard to get the mechanism out so soon as I get home and remove it, I'll post back and let everyone know if I found any old nickels under the mechanism.
But it was only recently that I found an old blurry picture of what he had. Sadly the machine was "lost" by my cousin. I have no clue where it ended up.
This machine has sat, working in my room. I had two locksmiths try to open the front without any luck.
YEARS later now - Monti recently recommended I buy an entry level lock picking kit, which I did. It arrived a couple days ago. I sat at Starbucks yesterday and fiddled around with it. It came with a cool clear lock to practice with. I found a website with some short videos showing the action of the basic lock. A few minutes later I was using different picks to open the clear lock. Apparently I found the right one. I inserted my torsion wrench and the pick, found the binding pin which moved the wrench a little. Then I just rubbed over the rest of the pins and the thing opened.
I finished my coffee, took my knowledge home and grabbed a "Master" padlock. I had that open in about three minutes.
So I went to my Jennings slot machine, inserted the torsion wrench and a pick. To my surprise - CLICK! I got it opened in about 40 seconds.
FINALLY I got the front panel off!
First I noticed a lot of nickels. So far, all have been ones I inserted. The machine still works but the side chute is jammed and they're all just falling inside the machine.
Then I noticed two very nice original labels. One large on on the back panel which I slid off after unlatching it (from the front). The other, smaller one was on the inside of the cabinet.
Next I noticed a "check" that appears to have been used as a washer under a thumb screw.
I'm not exactly sure how to remove the mechanism. It doesn't lift and slide out like my Mills. It was getting late anyway last night.
The lock was made by Corbin. It looks old but I'm not sure if that's an original lock or not. I already had a replacement so it's on now. I don't think Corbin locks are all that expensive. If it is original I might have it rebuilt by Dave.
It can't be that hard to get the mechanism out so soon as I get home and remove it, I'll post back and let everyone know if I found any old nickels under the mechanism.