Getting a Handle on First Slot Machines

Question: When were the first slot machines produced? And what does it cost a serious collector these days to acquire some machines in relatively good condition?--N.C.

Answer: The first machines were produced by San Francisco inventor Charles Fey in 1905, according to collectors. But forget about trying to find them. One collector said only a handful has survived over the years; one of them is on display in a Reno, Nev., restaurant.

As for price tags, this is a big-bucks collectible. Machines in good condition easily run more than $1,000 and, depending on rarity and the quality of the materials, can cost much more.

This isn’t to say that if you run across a broken-down machine you can’t have it restored. This is one category where serious collectors apparently do not frown upon quality restoration work. However, restoration, too, can mean heavy expenditures--perhaps as much as $1,000.

One way of dating production is to note the machine’s cabinet material. Wood cabinets were replaced by cast iron about 1916; and by the early 1920s, aluminum was the most common material. Other innovations, such as devices to foil cheaters, also will help you date a machine’s production.

On a related note, we recently received correspondence from a reader who said he collects an interesting category of gambling items--cheating devices. Examples, he said, are so-called card trimmers and a button-like gimmick that can hold a couple of cards under a table until called upon by the cheating gambler.

He said the heyday of many of these devious devices was in the saloons of the once-Wild Wild West. If such items carry a Western manufacturer, that would boost their value, he said.

Checking in a fairly comprehensive collectible catalogue, such unusual devices appear to have hefty prices. Card-trimmers, for example, carried price tags in excess of $1,000.

We’ve also noticed through our mail that a number of individuals deal in other gambling collectibles, such as books or equipment that has been used in casinos here and abroad.

Q: I would appreciate it if you could give me an address for an antique stein collector. I have some very old steins, and I am eager to find their approximate value.--K.S.

A: Lottie Lopez (P. O. Box 885, Santa Paula, Calif. 93060) says she is a beer-stein collector who has produced price lists and who makes offers on such pieces. It would be a good idea to give her as much information about your collection as possible, including condition and any identification marks indicating manufacturer and date of production. Photos of some of your collection also would help.

Q: I have several typed letters from Richard Nixon signed by him from 1962 to 1981. How much are they worth?--R.S.

A: As we have mentioned here before, it would behoove you to first ascertain whether the signatures are authentic or executed by a writing machine. Presidents, congressmen and other individuals who are pressed for time often resort to automatic writing devices when dealing with mountains of correspondence.

Naturally, to accurately appraise your collection, you’ll have to first resolve this question. You might want to consult with signature experts before proceeding with a calculation on your collection’s worth.

Ronald L. Soble cannot answer mail personally but will respond in this column to questions of general interest about collectibles. Do not telephone. Write to Your Collectibles, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.