CoinOpCollectorForum.com

What is the general feeling of ALL about leaving the power on on these electro-mechanical machines with all the circuit boards lights etc. burning all the time? In the casinos they were but as collectors and hobbyists we want them to last. But does turning them off and on do more harm than good? Would putting them on power timers be a good idea or bad one?

Rick,
My thought on this is as follows which I pass on to my Bally E/M slot service/repair customers as well!
Yes, in a casino environment three things were common:
1. Being in a controlled temperature environment which most casinos had set at approximately at 66 to 68 degrees where possible, at least the ones I worked in, to keep the players active on all gaming levels, slots, tables, etc. Not to hot to tire them out but not too cold to make them uncomfortable, so they would keep playing and spending money!
2. Other than sporadic play on the Graveyard shift, the slots where played continually on a regular basis keeping them "Limbered Up" so to speak!
The ones in the corners and not played often where actually more susceptible to visiting us in the slot shop!
3. Using the original lighting, especially the 6 V.Ac circuit bayonet style bulbs which produce and emanate heat the inside parts remained warm so the lubricant used was a little, slightly, of a heavier consistency which continuos play and warmth was appropriate!

Now in home usage to go over the points again;
1. Slot machines should be kept inside the residence not in an outside shop or garage in the winter time with no heat as a cold environment with little play or
2. Not enough play can cause mechanical portions, specially in the E/M variety slots to have a tendency to "malfunction" in areas of over lubrication, coil switching areas, Etc.
and 3.
Some folks like to use LED bulbs to replace the original bulbs and yes while they last longer they do not provide that little amount of warmth the original bulbs did and lubrication should be very light and almost non existent! These slots were designed for these bulbs which did supply a little warmth, not much but it helped!
I have customers who have large collections of the early Bally E/M slot machine and they leave them on all the time and actively play them often however the ones I see in the shop were in a cold environment, not even plugged in and stored which require a thorough cleaning, adjusting and light lubrication!
Sorry to get so long winded and if I missed anything someone else here will correct me or comment, which I thoroughly respect!
Bona Fortuna!
MONTI

MONTI wrote:Rick,
My thought on this is as follows which I pass on to my Bally E/M slot service/repair customers as well!
Yes, in a casino environment three things were common:
1. Being in a controlled temperature environment which most casinos had set at approximately at 66 to 68 degrees where possible, at least the ones I worked in, to keep the players active on all gaming levels, slots, tables, etc. Not to hot to tire them out but not too cold to make them uncomfortable, so they would keep playing and spending money!
2. Other than sporadic play on the Graveyard shift, the slots where played continually on a regular basis keeping them "Limbered Up" so to speak!
The ones in the corners and not played often where actually more susceptible to visiting us in the slot shop!
3. Using the original lighting, especially the 6 V.Ac circuit bayonet style bulbs which produce and emanate heat the inside parts remained warm so the lubricant used was a little, slightly, of a heavier consistency which continuos play and warmth was appropriate!

Now in home usage to go over the points again;
1. Slot machines should be kept inside the residence not in an outside shop or garage in the winter time with no heat as a cold environment with little play or
2. Not enough play can cause mechanical portions, specially in the E/M variety slots to have a tendency to "malfunction" in areas of over lubrication, coil switching areas, Etc.
and 3.
Some folks like to use LED bulbs to replace the original bulbs and yes while they last longer they do not provide that little amount of warmth the original bulbs did and lubrication should be very light and almost non existent! These slots were designed for these bulbs which did supply a little warmth, not much but it helped!
I have customers who have large collections of the early Bally E/M slot machine and they leave them on all the time and actively play them often however the ones I see in the shop were in a cold environment, not even plugged in and stored which require a thorough cleaning, adjusting and light lubrication!
Sorry to get so long winded and if I missed anything someone else here will correct me or comment, which I thoroughly respect!
Bona Fortuna!
MONTI

OR USE A BFH TO GRAB THE MACHINES ATTENTION !!!!!!!!!

Monti, Read your reply and agree with what your saying for MECHANICAL machines but what about the electronic ones? I have heard that leaving those on at home with little use tends to wear down the electronics and calls for electronic part replacements much more often. I currently have both my electronic ones on timers (on at 0900 off at 2200) and my lighted Jennings mechanical s on timers to preserve the bulbs life. Our house is about the same temp as the casinos you mentioned. (prefer to be COOL ) My collection consists of one mechanical machine for each US coin and the electronic ones are both 25 cent.

RoudyRick wrote:Monti, Read your reply and agree with what your saying for MECHANICAL machines but what about the electronic ones? I have heard that leaving those on at home with little use tends to wear down the electronics and calls for electronic part replacements much more often. I currently have both my electronic ones on timers (on at 0900 off at 2200) and my lighted Jennings mechanical s on timers to preserve the bulbs life. Our house is about the same temp as the casinos you mentioned. (prefer to be COOL ) My collection consists of one mechanical machine for each US coin and the electronic ones are both 25 cent.

Whatever works for the individual, I was just speaking from the Bally's, IGT's, Etc. that come thru my shop and I always ask the owner how often it is used and where it is placed!
On a timer is better than just sitting and should keep the battery up on those with a microprocessor and game chip that doesn't want to see loss of power!

Hi Monti, I always wondered if the casinos shut down E/M machines during the late hours of the night (2-5 am) and didn't think of the internal heat from the lamp bulbs would help with the lubrication on the mechanism. I have 4 E/M slots indoors and I turn them on from about an hour everyday then play all of them for about 30-45 mins and then shut them off 30 min after we are finished. We keep record of the big jackpots on a calendar to see how close they hit from year to year and its pretty interesting to see how they repeat within 2 to 3 days of last year's wins. Thank you for providing the insight of casino gambling strategies towards the players and the operation of the E/M slots during that time period.

Bally Bill wrote:Hi Monti, I always wondered if the casinos shut down E/M machines during the late hours of the night (2-5 am) and didn't think of the internal heat from the lamp bulbs would help with the lubrication on the mechanism. I have 4 E/M slots indoors and I turn them on from about an hour everyday then play all of them for about 30-45 mins and then shut them off 30 min after we are finished. We keep record of the big jackpots on a calendar to see how close they hit from year to year and its pretty interesting to see how they repeat within 2 to 3 days of last year's wins. Thank you for providing the insight of casino gambling strategies towards the players and the operation of the E/M slots during that time period.

Interesting way to watch payouts and maintain your Bally's, you must suffer from OCD like I do!
As to them repeating themselves, all reel slot machines, mechanical and early electronic, due to the spinning cycle of the reels "Repeat" themselves with some consistancy, even with variators in the E/M slots, clock timing and reel mech installed, the spin of the reels have their own cycles, controlled by length of time for first reel locks up, second reel lock up and third reel lock up, Etc. The time between these reel lock ups, even with variators installed as the variators have their on set cycle if working properly somewhat control the time between payouts with minor variations and facilitate the "House Percentage", Charles Fey when he invented the first three reel slot machine in the late 1800's and early 1900's I believe was aware of these cycles!
House percentages were also controlled by the reel strip configuration as well which is well known, very interesting if you think about it!
And that doesn't even take into consideration the "Bugs" some casinos used on their slot machines along with "Patching" reel strips or pulling the fans off of the clocks to have it run out faster so as to lengthen the cycle between payouts, especially Jackpots by having the reels lock up quicker shortening the timed reel lockup cycle!
Thanks for your comment!
Bona Fortuna!
MONTI

SAMPLE OF AN EARLY MECHANICAL SLOT CLOCK VARIATOR

wow Monti they were not kidding when they say the HOUSE always win with all those tricks up their sleeves! Is that felt only used on the EM slot clock variators or on the Mills, Jenning machines also? Does this 10 stop reel look like it was patched at some point in its life?

Bill!
The clock variator shown in the previous post was one used on the mechanical slots, Mills, Jennings, Pace, Etc.
The ones shown below were used on the Bally's on the reel mech assembly as shown below as part of the clock timing action and also the last reel stop timing!
As for the reel strips you show the difference in aging of the strips shows changes were made at some point!
MONTI

Hard to tell whether your reel bundle has been patched from one picture. Looks like a nice well used original with the Free Play lemon symbol gone. Probably removed the free play finger on the mech as many operators did to improve profit.