The Slot Machine


While you are sitting at the casino pulling away at that slot machine, pushing in coin after coin, have you ever considered the history of the slot machine, or the “fruit machine,” as the British say? Well, a mechanic by the name of Charles Fey first invented the slot machine in 1895. It was called the Liberty Bell. Designed with three spinning reels, the first slot machine had diamonds, spades, heart symbols, and the cracked liberty bell painted on them. A spin resulting with all liberty bells gave the biggest payoff, which was a total of fifty cents. Charles Fey also invented the Draw Poker, Three Spinde, and the Klondike. Later, he invented the first draw poker machine. He also devised the trade check separator, which detected fake nickels from the real ones.

Charles Fey would rent out his slot machines to various saloons for fifty percent of the profit. The demand ended up growing beyond Fey’s capabilities to build them, and he refused to sell the rights over to a manufacturer. In 1907, Herbert Mills developed a knock-off version that included the fruit, lemons, plums, and cherries. He called his the Operator Bell.

So the next time you are sitting at the slot machine, be sure to keep Charles Fey in mind. When you hit the jackpot, be sure to thank him for having such a wonderful idea.

Labels: slot-machines

 posted by My Poker Room Supplies