They’ve been called “fruit machines,” and “the one-armed bandit” but regardless of what they are dubbed, slot machines total up to be just plain fun!

They’ve certainly come along way since the Liberty Bell. Err…not that Liberty Bell. Although, Franklin might have had some fun with the gambling invention during his time. Unfortunately for our forefather, we mean the first slot machine, which had a cracked Liberty Bell painted on each reel. Invented in 1895 by car mechanic, Charles Fay, the Liberty Bell slot machine had three spinning reels. Diamond, spade, and heart symbols were painted around each reel plus the image of a cracked Liberty Bell. A spin resulting in three Liberty Bells in a row gave the biggest payoff, a grand total of fifty cents or ten nickels. It was considered big money back in those days.

The demand for the new invention was incredible. Fay couldn’t keep up with the amount of slot machine orders he was filling. Gambling supply manufacturers tried to buy the manufacturing and distribution rights to the Liberty Bell, however, Charles Fey refused to sell.

Unfortunately slot machines were banned in 1902, an act that didn’t take long since they were invented in 1895. But slot owners were innovative even then, and they changed the coin machines to offer candy, drinks, and gum, and they redecorated the wheel with pictures of the gum and fruit instead of the card suits. As a result, Herbert Mills, a Chicago manufacturer of arcade machines, began production of a slot machine, a knock-off of Fey’s Liberty Bell, called the Operator Bell. Mills was the first person to place fruit symbols: i.e. lemons, plums, and cherries on machines. Cherries have remained a constant on slot machines even now, and the sticks of gum were eventually altered into the bars that you still see on a lot of common slot machines.

The first popular electric gambling machine was the 1934 animated horserace machine called “Paces Races.” In 1964, the first all electronic gambling machine was built by Nevada Electronic called the "21" machine. Other all electronic versions of gambling games followed including ones for dice, roulette, horse racing, and poker (Dale Electronics’ Poker-Matic was very popular). In 1975, the first electronic slot machine was built by the Fortune Coin Company.

This new technology has allowed the slot machine manufacturers to produce a virtually unlimited number of entertaining and attractive slot machine games. With its bright, neon lights and happy little buzzes, gamblers gobble it up as if it were popcorn. Slot machines now take up over 80% of many casinos’ floor space and make up a similar amount of the casinos’ revenues and profits.

Available in this months Morphy’s Auction, a division of Geppi’s Entertainment, is a near mint 1897 Mills Judge Music upright nickel slot machine. This example is truly outstanding with original castings, reel, and is in working condition. The wood is nearly perfect and the condition is its equal. The cylinder music box works well and it was made to usher in the 20th century. This upright embodies the elegance of the era. It is a six-way machine with detailed castings and wood carvings. This machine is one of a kind and museum quality. To view the other wonderful items in Morphy’s auction, click here.