CoinOpCollectorForum.com

Sorry if already posted here. Wished I knew where to go diving. Rick B

http://untappedcities.com/tag/slot-machines/

Another couple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGJ2Uvlu1Kk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXqZoR_RzHk


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr8kJJZznfo

Rick B wrote:Sorry if already posted here. Wished I knew where to go diving. Rick B

http://untappedcities.com/tag/slot-machines/

If you happen to find out where the dive is , could sure use a back door for an FOK !

Rick B wrote:Sorry if already posted here. Wished I knew where to go diving. Rick B

http://untappedcities.com/tag/slot-machines/

As enjoyable as these old photos & videos are, relating to the history of our hobby, it is still very disturbing
to see their demise. Mayor LaGuardia should be ashamed of himself. Sledging the Slots is bad enough, but
how about those poor little Bally "Baby" examples, waiting for a swim. This is a good example of how the
law were non-selective in their raids. All those Diggers, and barrels full of Digger parts don't belong there
for the ride. But the worst of all, is the Mills "The Old Mill" candy vender, ABT "Target" with side gum vender,
and to top it off, a Manikin "Baker Boy" gumball vender. Sad-Sad-Sad!

sam2002 wrote:

Rick B wrote:Sorry if already posted here. Wished I knew where to go diving. Rick B

http://untappedcities.com/tag/slot-machines/

If you happen to find out where the dive is , could sure use a back door for an FOK !

Rick:
Lots-A-Luck, finding that back door. Not to mention how full of holes it would be from the salt water!
My diving days are all but history now. But in the 'hey-days', I dove in many waters, but never seen as
much as a crusty mech., or a rusty door. But then again, I wasn't diving much in the Atlantic either.
Which is where the greatest number of slots were dumped. More-so than the Pacific.
Several years ago, I was in contact with an old time operator, whom shared many stories with me. He
had a pretty extensive route, that went from Jersey to Maine, and had a close friend that was a Judge.
When the Johnson Act was passed, the Judge called to relay the news, and possible penalties. Without
wasting any time, he hired a few men, and trucks, which hastily cleared out his entire route. Tossing
machines in the ocean, bays, lakes, dumps, and anywhere else he could. He did mention saving a couple
of slots, but strangely enough, also stashed 75 to 80 trade stimulators behind a false wall in a warehouse.
It was at a time when he first connected with me, via Dick Bueschel, because he was now digging those
machines out of hiding, to clean up and sell. Some of the machines he mentioned having on the route,
that got chucked, just blew my mind. Some Rare, and many that are Scarce today. Just one example, I
remember him saying that he had 100 to 150 Pierce "Whirlwinds". Geez!
I have always wondered how many machines were seen, and ignored, by the ones that dive for ship wrecks.
I have had two close friends that were Salvage Divers, and neither of them had ever mentioned anything
about finding slot machines. One of them was a diver on the SS Andrea Doria, which collided with the
Stockholm, off Nantucket, in July 1956. That was in an area where thousands of slots may have met their
demise. He was diving there in the late 60's or early 70's, but never seen any coin-op. It is hard to fathom,
the amount of machines that sank to the bottom of the deep-blue.
Thanks for the links to the pics and videos. I have collected many of these over the years. Very interesting.
Bill

When you talk about slots being dumped in the Oceans, see the attached negatives from the San Francisco Examiner in 1951, these were removed from the U.S Military base and dumped in the San Francisco Bay by the Military. These were the first machines to be destroyed following the introduction of the Johnson Act. of January 1st, 1951, the date of the dumping was January 2nd, 1951, my late friend Marty Bromley owner of SErvice GAmes (Sega) was charged with the illegal operation of Slot Machines, after this all slot machines were banned on U.S bases in the United States.

Freddy Bailey

Hi Freddy:
Nice of you to jump-in on the thread.
I am well aware of the many Slot Machine dumpings, confiscations, raids, etc., that took place in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I have been a S.F. Historian for many years, and have a pretty extensive photo file of the early days. Mainly focusing on the
1870's, through the S.F. Earthquake of 1906. Being born and raised in Pacific Heights, I later took a liking to the vast amount
of Victorian architecture, in that area, as well as other neighborhoods. I covered much of the city, photographing every old
Victorian building I could find. Many of which, had later met their demise, from modernization, via removal of gingerbread,
to replace with different styles of plain siding. Several were also lost due to occasional fires. On the bright-side, many of the
homes that had lost their decor, were later re-restored by much of the Gay community. Some of the new color combinations
were much flashier than original, but at least they again looked like a true Victorian Residence. Even though the Presidio was
right next door to us, and played there as a child, I was too young at the time, to know anything that was going on with any
slot machine activity. The closest I came to gaming, was shooting pool with the firemen, at the local firehouse, a few blocks
away. I could barely see over the table when I started. Standing on a box, sometimes helped.
I also have copies of the photos you show above, as well as several others, regarding the dumping of the machines in S.F. Bay,
on Jan.2,1951. I also have another group, of which you show one, with the two Privates loading slots in the back of an Army
truck. That photo was taken much earlier, on June 15,1950. That was also a confiscation of some kind. One machine that I
have a pix of in that group, was a nice Pace "Paces Reels" console, with the skill shooter.
We are going to have to get together someday Freddy, and have a 'photo swap'! Bueschel and I did that all the time.

Hi again Freddy:
Here's one of the pix of that Pace "Paces Reels", that I mentioned above, which was removed
from the Officers Club in the Presidio, with numerous other machines, on June 15,1950.
Bill

Bill,
I am sending you the information to your email address about the Buckley machines being loaded onto the army truck, along with the names of the two privates, I have the negatives and the San Francisco Examiner tags from the time, along with a picture of the machines being removed from the club and a picture from inside the army truck.

We must get together soon.

Freddy

Checking the posts on slot dumping reminded me of searching them out in the Great Lakes. Many moons ago I went out with four others to search for the dumping grounds. We had two divers and lots of bouys to popup so as to get an idea of the trail that was left. We did research before hand to help us. We found that most times the barges or boats never went out of sight of land as they did not have navigational equipment on board at that time. Finding the original dock sight was key. When the boats went out they just made a wide arch like a u-turn and dumped all the way till they returned to the dock. The dumping began once the barge or boat went past the city limit (WHERE EVER THAT IS IN THE WATER). The pics posted show that to be the case as well. Most machines ended up in the bays of the city not in the ocean. The sad part is that the salt water has probably so badly corroded the metal that if found most of the machines would be near worthless except for a few brass pieces. In my area they are out there and from info gathered by recreational divers they are still in relatively good condition as one told me he found one with coins still in the jackpot window and tried to break it open with a rock. The trouble is finding it again.