by Dave » Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:33 pm
That machine was made by Games Inc. Keeney also made similar models.
These machines are called "Flashers" and were made in the mid 1950s through the mid 1960's. The reason they are called flashers is because there are bulbs behind the glass and they flash randomly when the machine is being played.
These machines use electromechanical technology and if they have been sitting a long time then plan on spending some time and money getting the machine to work again.
They don't payout coins, just credits. When you hit a winner you won free games. Typically, you could cash out the credits though. There should be a button on the back of the machine which would reset to credit meter to zero. The owner of the establishment would push this button after paying you off.
These things were the answer to the Johnson Act which made it illegal to ship slot machines.
I bought a warehouse full of these things about 15 years ago. They have long been sold.
Unfortunately, these machines don't have much value. Most of the value is in the glass. If the glass is in good shape and if it has pictures of scantily clad women then you can probably take the glass out of the machine, frame it, and get more money than what the machine is worth.
Dave