Caille Slot Identification / parts wanted

[Bucky]

Hello all

Just picked up a Caille slot machine at a local flea market. I don't know the model, but based on pictures here and elsewhere, it is either a Doughboy, Playboy, Cadet or Commander. For the most part it is all there...BUT, there are a few things missing that I know about, and maybe a few other items based on some bare linkage attachments. The rear cover, lock, cash box, but most importantly to me, the hydraulic damper. Also would like to find any documentation or manuals that would have went with this machine. If anyone has these parts, or can direct me to someone that does, it would be most appreciated.

I Have got it to work, but only by manually pushing on the bar that would normally attach to the damper. Hard to do and pull the lever.

I will attach some photos below, and am open to comments, good or bad. If there are other photos needed, let me know and I will take them and upload them.

I probably overpaid a touch, but once I get it working, I don't think it will bother me too much.

Thanks for having me.

Buck

[Bucky]

A few more photos of my new toy

[marsonion]

This appears to be a Caille slot called the "Knockout" (you'll find a full-page ad reprinted in Bueschel's "Lemons, Cherries and Bell-Fruit-Gum" book) which was the very last model they produced, 1938-39, before their demise. On yours, the trim appears to have been tampered with: the white areas on the front were originally covered with broad, embossed plates. Looks like somebody swapped in a couple pieces of trim from a Commander (the horizontal steel straps) in there.

It's a pain to get hold of a pump. I do refurbs on those, but the only place I know to buy one outright charges $hundreds. Every now and then a junked mech for a Cadet or Commander will show up on eBay; I got lucky and snagged one for $100.00, just to get the pump.

Mechanical clocks can be substituted if you're handy. You'll have to redirect the first reel stop spring to make room for the fan.

Hello all

Just picked up a Caille slot machine at a local flea market. I don't know the model, but based on pictures here and elsewhere, it is either a Doughboy, Playboy, Cadet or Commander. For the most part it is all there...BUT, there are a few things missing that I know about, and maybe a few other items based on some bare linkage attachments. The rear cover, lock, cash box, but most importantly to me, the hydraulic damper. Also would like to find any documentation or manuals that would have went with this machine. If anyone has these parts, or can direct me to someone that does, it would be most appreciated.

I Have got it to work, but only by manually pushing on the bar that would normally attach to the damper. Hard to do and pull the lever.

I will attach some photos below, and am open to comments, good or bad. If there are other photos needed, let me know and I will take them and upload them.

I probably overpaid a touch, but once I get it working, I don't think it will bother me too much.

Thanks for having me.

Buck

[Bucky]

Hi Marsonion

Thanks for the information. I would like to find an original hydraulic unit, but I'm not going to bust the bank to do so. If I have to, I will find a small bike shock, or R/C car damper to hook up. And if I have lots of time to play with, maybe convert a small piston air pump or R/C engine. Just need a one way check valve in the piston and an adjustable orifice. Do you happen to know about how much linear travel is used by this damper? What about sources for these mechanical clocks? I have plenty of skill to install one, if I need to.

The stainless trim appears original, complete with mounting rivets. But who knows. That why I came here, to find answers from those more knowledgeable. I did not see any holes for the mounting of the missing trim.

Do you have any sources for spare parts, like the other items I am missing?

Thanks again

Buck

[marsonion]

You're welcome. I'm on vacation in northern CA right now, but if you PM me I can provide more detailed info in a week or two. I have mechanical clocks that came along with various deals but no definite sources-- they might be catalogue items available from Bernie Berten or Krahl for all I know. Jack Brink (Metal Form Products) listed a clock conversion kit a few years back but I had zero luck trying to order one from him. If you put together a functonal replica or substitute hydraulic clock I'd like to hear about it.

Regarding the odd trim, it's hard to be sure of anything. I've seen mix-and-match monsters built out of castings from nearly every '30s Caille you can name... but here's what I think your machine could have looked like originally:

http://www.ibuyoldslots.com/priceGuide/ ... 832369.jpg

One other thing: your machine appears to be a "no lemons" unit, which was a characteristic of a model called the "Playboy" which was nearly identical to a Commander in every other way. According to Bueschel the Knockout Deluxe was also offered in no-lemon versions, so I think that's what you have there. I'm guessing a skilled "monster maker" messed with the trim, but naturally I can't be sure of that... the painted panels sure don't look stock, anyway. Parts? Expect to pay more than you'd expect. Cailles aren't Mills replicas.

Hi Marsonion

Thanks for the information. I would like to find an original hydraulic unit, but I'm not going to bust the bank to do so. If I have to, I will find a small bike shock, or R/C car damper to hook up. And if I have lots of time to play with, maybe convert a small piston air pump or R/C engine. Just need a one way check valve in the piston and an adjustable orifice. Do you happen to know about how much linear travel is used by this damper? What about sources for these mechanical clocks? I have plenty of skill to install one, if I need to.

The stainless trim appears original, complete with mounting rivets. But who knows. That why I came here, to find answers from those more knowledgeable. I did not see any holes for the mounting of the missing trim.

Do you have any sources for spare parts, like the other items I am missing?

Thanks again

Buck

[Bucky]

Yes, you are correct. It does not have any lemons on the reels.

If I can't find a hydraulic or mechanical clock, I will let you know what I come up with.

Thanks

Buck

[marsonion]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I've added them to my WTF file, as they create still more doubt in categorizing late-'30s Caille models. I felt pretty sure of myself calling this a Knockout on account of the castings, which include the striped but rounded-off coin entry on top and the monogrammed front casting, which appears to have been painted-over by somebody; the portion above the coin tray should have white striping also, but that appears to have been overpainted. The white reel window casting also indicates a Knockout. But how and why a bunch of steel Commander trim appears all over this thing-- ?

Good luck, and I'd like to hear how it goes.

Yes, you are correct. It does not have any lemons on the reels.

If I can't find a hydraulic or mechanical clock, I will let you know what I come up with.

Thanks

Buck

[marsonion]

Here's some items from my WTF file which might be pertinent. According to Bueschel, the Play-Boy was nothing but a Commander without lemons and a sticker on the reel window advertising that fact. In "Lemons, Cherries and Bell-Fruit-Gum" he reprints an illustrated trade ad on page 157 which clearly shows the distinctive look of the "Knockout" reel window, top castings and monogrammed front casting, noting in a sidebar that KO's came in "No Lemon" models.

On the basis of this information, how would you identify these Caille slots?

[marsonion]

Bueschel on Caille Play-Boys-- the cabinet in the picture is indistinguishable from a Commander. Only the "no-lemon" reels and window sticker would indicate it is anything but a Commander.

[Bucky]

Thanks for the additional information, marsonion. From all appearances, my machine looks exactly like the one in the picture "knockout1" , complete with slanted coin entry "box" on top of casting, except mine is a 5 cent machine, and some of the trim chrome is different. (no upper full width chrome above the reels, and no full height side chrome on either side of the jackpot window).

The payout card is the same, as well as the paint around the reels. I do not have the "no lemons" sticker, though it does not have lemons on the reels. also, no chrome above the payout tray. Like you mention above, it looks like the grooves above the payout tray were painted over.

I have a tentative fix for my lack of a hydraulic clock. I just have to make a lever arm to connect my replacement unit (already mounted) to the stock arm. Pictures shortly of current state, and hopefully a test in a day or so. So far, I have not modified/drilled/ground anything in order to mount this replacement, but it was a somewhat tight fit.

PS do you have any pictures available (or can you take any) of the machine mechanics from the front and rear and sides, especially the lower end from the front and rear? Just trying to identify if I have any missing parts or springs.