Intro

[Daddyfrank7660]

Hi to all'
Let me start by saying I'm new to the forum & late bloomer to the coin-op family. Only About 3yrs. I've been a coin/gold ,silver bullion collector for over 35yrs. I have found that collecting these machines, in many ways can be much harder than collecting coins. I say that do to How hard of a time I have had trying to find parts & information on some units. But it is something that I wish I would have gotten into a long time ago. I am sure it's just a matter of finding the right person to talk to. That being said, I would like to ask if anyone might have or would take some good pictures of a Sparks sports mechanism for me. So I can have something to go on.I bought one in fairly good shape. It runs thru the motions but is not paying off (tokens) as it should. I feel it's something simple. Who ever had it did a number on the springs. I also don't think some are in the correct place.

As I said I am new to this so if I put this in the wrong place on this forum. I apologize.


Thanks for any help in advance
Daddyfrank7660@aol.com
Frank

[Bob K]

Welcome to the forum. I'm relatively new myself. I only have 6 antique slot machines and just got them working by pure luck (well, 2 of them were already working). My main hobby is collecting military weapons from WWII and a few odds and ends beyond WWII. Some of these guys are very knowledgeable and willing to help. Wish you luck. Wish I could help.

[Daddyfrank7660]

Hi' thanks for your response. I can't understand why there is not more info. On each machine. That's the one thing about collecting coins. There's not a lot of coins that I run into that I don't already know about or at lease a little of. But you could always find the info/pictures Easley. I know that the early 1890 days not to many thing had good records keep. But I would think by the 1920/1930/1940 they would have all kinds of literature on each machine. I'm thinking I may have gotten it to this to late. I' bought a couple machines that needed just a little attention & I took care of the one. Now I have this sparks, that I have working about 90%. But I have another that is a marvel w/gum. I need a back for it, but it also needs to be rebuilt. I feel it looks kinda simple. I may get surprise. I am thankful for any help or info.

Thanks again
Frank

[nvmos2]

Daddyfrank;

I assume you are referring to the Groetchen Sparks later version (Sparks Champion) trade stimulator.
Below are photos of the mech for that machine.
Did you have a specific question?

[Daddyfrank7660]

Hi Nvmos2

Thanks for the pics. They will help a lot. But I hate to ask if it's not much trouble, I could use 2 more picture. The place I need is: if you look at your first pic, right behind the coin slide. In between that (right) panel facing the unit as if it was in the case & first wheel. That's where most of my issue is. & if you have the door I could really use a picture of the inside. I do not have door. Been looking for 1. Curious because with out door penny goes flying across table. I can see a little of it in the first pic. But not all of what I need. Thanks again for taking the time to do this for me

I was told by several people that I have dealt with in the months prior to joining This forum. To do so, because they new a lot of great people belonged & I am now learning that was very true.

Sincerely
Frank

[nvmos2]

Frank;

Here are some close-ups of the Sparks mechanism and back door.

If you do not have a back door, I do not know if anyone has reproduced it.
If you are going to try and fabricate a back door, you probably won’t attempt to duplicate the viewing window. If that’s the case, you probably won’t attempt the coin chute either.
I have the Liberty that is missing the coin chute; when a coin is played in it, the coin bounces off the back door and (much of the time) into the “coin catcher” on the back of the mechanism. You need to check, however, for coins that miss the coin catcher and make sure they don’t jam up the mechanism.

The first mechanism photo is the area I think you are concerned with.
It sounds like you are having trouble with the side token dispenser (as opposed to the gold award token dispenser on the front).
The 3rd mech photo shows the token slide in the forward position, as if it just dropped a token into the chute. You can see the end of the token lock/release lever and the bottom end of the token operating rod just above it. Just to the right of the lock/release lever is the bottom of the arm ready to push the vertical tab on the token payout slide back to the aft position when the next coin is played.
The 2nd mech photo is a little blurry, but I tried to show the hook that is attached to the lock/release lever. The hook loops over the end of the token operating rod and pulls the lock lever up when the next coin is played. This locks the slide in the aft position until another winning combination comes along to release it.
The 4th mech photo gives an angled view of how the hook is attached to the lock/release lever. It’s dark in there and this is as good as my photographer could get them.

Hope this helps,
Jim

[Daddyfrank7660]

hi Jim'

thanks a lot. that helped. I found 1 spring missing. I need to study it a little more. but I think this will do it I hope. here is the picture of that spring. not sure the length of it. and tightness. maybe you will know. I circled it in picture.




thanks again frank

[nvmos2]

That spring is 1/2 inch long and not very strong.
It is connected to the middle of the arm that pushes the token payout slide back to the aft position after a token has been paid out.
Each time the machine is played, the arm is raised up toward the back of the machine; it would stay up except for that spring.
It returns the arm to the proper rest position ready for the next play.

[Daddyfrank7660]

So half inch spring with lite tension. Picture Looks to be about a 1/4" round. Sense I'm guessing.

Thank you
Frank