The future of slot collecting.

[oldslotman]

I think almost everyone would have to agree the slot collecting as a hobby or whatever you want to call it is alittle down right now. A lot of the old timers are gone and it seems like there is a lack of middleage people to pick up the slack. But I do believe that there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. I've sold a few machines in the pass year, mostly to what I would call older people, 50 and older. Almost everyone one of them talk about how their grandkids enjoy playing with the slots and I include my grandkids into that group. I can't tell you how many times I have heard, Papa can I play the slot machines. I believe those kids are going to remember this and as they become adults will oneday want one or more of those machines that the played as a kid. I have also sold some machines to the 25 to 40 age group and now a couple of them own more than one machine and are members of this forum. So I do believe that there is a bright side to this hobby. To me there is not a better sound than the wheels stopping and the coins hitting the coin tray after I pull that handle and I think as time goes by more youger people will also like that sound rather than playing something on a flat screen and pushing a button. And also, there is just something about the everylasting beauty of alot of these machines that were built the last forever and many will. So here's to the future, even though they may be 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 years old, but I do believe they are there.

[RameGoom]

I agree. Several years ago, my father-in-law gave me a trade stimulator which was all taken apart, called Bell Boy. I managed to get it back together, works perfectly now, and it's my prize possession. Got me to thinking about slots.

So, I got into this hobby about 2-1/2 years ago, my first visit to the Nov. Coin Op show. I purchased a Jennings revamp, took it all apart, and figured out how it worked...now it works flawlessly. That's where I discovered the "ten stop, 20 symbol" method of losing money. Blood begins to boil. Learning curve begins.

Then I picked up a Summit Systems monster machine that didn't work, but I was assured that it was full of Ike dollars - if I could get it open. Turned out to be a fact, 160 of them inside, so I pretty much broke even. Did the research, tore into it, and got it working perfectly. Knowing electronics helped considerably. Ask me anything about Summit.

So it started. My background in electronics drove me to check out a warehouse full of E-series Ballys, of which I bought 20. They'd been sitting around for years, all boxed up, so the decision was easy. Tore into them and got them ALL working, and in the process, learned an awful lot about the mechanicals and electronics of these 1982 machines. My grandkids won't leave them alone...!

Next move landed me 25 old J400 Jennings machines, all in good shape, but in need of restoration. Three pallets full of them, and I'm about ready to tear into them.

So, yeah, I'm pretty much knee deep in these things. I still want to buy an old Mills dime machine to put next to the old Jennings. That will complete the corner of my game room. I have joined the club, I guess.

[buzzojoe]

oldslotman,
I wish that the antique slot hobby was growing and more popular also. But I'm afraid that like everything else, time moves forward and new things become popular and "old" things die out.
Grandkids WILL play antique slot machines If they are no other choices. But I know first hand that if if you put kids in a game room where there are antique slots (or pinball machines) and also "modern" slot machines, pinball machines, and video games, they will ALWAYS go for the new stuff. It's just how it is. When I was a kid my uncle had a car collection. He loved his model A's and old 30's Packards, but if given the choice I ALWAYS wanted to ride in and mess with the 50's and 60's cars! A Smurfs wristwatch is worth more than a Hopalong Cassidy watch. A 1980's Trans Am is worth more than a Model A now. It's just how things progress.
I'm 51 and I have a few antique slots that I like because of their unique features or cool appearance. But when friends or kids come over to my place none of them want to play the antique slots. They say "wow. that looks cool", and then move on to the "new" stuff. It's like me trying to get my kids to like 60's music. Just ain't gonna happen. I didn't want to listen to the big band music that my parents liked either. Again, It would be GREAT if the antique slot hobby grew again, but it's just not going to happen....

[RameGoom]

My kids and grandkids all seem to gravitate to the old-school stuff though. I remember bringing out my super-8 projector and a box full of films. The grandkids asked what they were. Then we proceeded to spend the whole weekend showing no-sound films - they were thrilled. And it was my son who ran the projector. Wow.

Same thing with the old Atari stuff I had. They couldn't leave that alone - I even had to dig out an old CRT TV to play it in. I guess they get tired of their Ipads and need a variety.

There will always be a resurgence of old stuff far as I can see. So don't give up on the antiques. Everything eventually becomes antique. And the cool factor increases with age.

[YourBestBet]

oldslotman,
I wish that the antique slot hobby was growing and more popular also. But I'm afraid that like everything else, time moves forward and new things become popular and "old" things die out.
Grandkids WILL play antique slot machines If they are no other choices. But I know first hand that if if you put kids in a game room where there are antique slots (or pinball machines) and also "modern" slot machines, pinball machines, and video games, they will ALWAYS go for the new stuff. It's just how it is. When I was a kid my uncle had a car collection. He loved his model A's and old 30's Packards, but if given the choice I ALWAYS wanted to ride in and mess with the 50's and 60's cars! A Smurfs wristwatch is worth more than a Hopalong Cassidy watch. A 1980's Trans Am is worth more than a Model A now. It's just how things progress.
I'm 51 and I have a few antique slots that I like because of their unique features or cool appearance. But when friends or kids come over to my place none of them want to play the antique slots. They say "wow. that looks cool", and then move on to the "new" stuff. It's like me trying to get my kids to like 60's music. Just ain't gonna happen. I didn't want to listen to the big band music that my parents liked either. Again, It would be GREAT if the antique slot hobby grew again, but it's just not going to happen....

buzzjoe, I kindly disagree with you. I'm 30 and recently became interested in collecting antique slots because they are all mechanical. They definitely don't make things like they used to! The subject matter and history of these machines are awesome. I was never exposed to antique slots as a kid but I can definitely respect them now.

Times do change and the market on items can shift. However, I'm a firm believer that the decades when these machines were being rolled out (post Industrial Revolution, during the Great Depression, WW1 & WW2 and the hay days of early gambling) will always play an important part in American history. These machines appeal to a very wide range of people.

[buzzojoe]

I don't disagree that there will always be a FEW younger people who will collect antique slots. Just like there are a FEW "young" guys who collect Model "A" cars and Big Band records. But without actually doing any "formal" research, I think I'd be safe in saying that 90 out of 100 people who are in the serious collecting stage of their lives right now will prefer a "modern" coin op machine to one from the pre-electric years. And 30 years from now, if there are still people collecting stuff at all, they will prefer something other than the IGT slots, Williams Pinball machines, and PacMan games that the "collector age" people like right now.
When I first got into the hobby, there was no internet or cell phones, or Ebay. There are still a few people who don't do email or use Ebay, but again, those are the EXCEPTIONS, not the rule. I LOVE my old coin op stuff. It would be GREAT if they kept getting more valuable and desirable. But it just ain't gonna happen.................

[terick2104]

I just want add - I have been in the slot machine hobby for over 35 years and when I started in the late 1970's with my first slot machine [25c Pace Rocket] everybody at that time was saying that the hobby will die out because the younger generation won't be interested in the old slots. The Chicago Show still attracts large crowds including the overseas buyers with their shipping containers. Ebay has really changed the scope of the hobby, compared to when I started. Back then about the only way to buy or sell a slot machine or juke etc. was either among the collectors in your area, the Chicago Show or in the Antique Trader newspaper. Now I believe 90% of the buying and selling is on the internet, and who can tell what the ages of the buyers are. It is a great hobby and I have met a lot of nice people and I hope the younger generation keeps it going.

[buzzojoe]

Remember the days of actually writing letters and postcards to people asking if they had a part or machine for sale? Or calling them and ending up spending like 3 hours on the phone talking about your collections? LOL!

[oldslotman]

I forgot to add one other reason the youngsters love my old slots. I think they always go home with some loose change in their pockets.

[oldslotman]

I don't disagree that there will always be a FEW younger people who will collect antique slots. Just like there are a FEW "young" guys who collect Model "A" cars and Big Band records. But without actually doing any "formal" research, I think I'd be safe in saying that 90 out of 100 people who are in the serious collecting stage of their lives right now will prefer a "modern" coin op machine to one from the pre-electric years. And 30 years from now, if there are still people collecting stuff at all, they will prefer something other than the IGT slots, Williams Pinball machines, and PacMan games that the "collector age" people like right now.
When I first got into the hobby, there was no internet or cell phones, or Ebay. There are still a few people who don't do email or use Ebay, but again, those are the EXCEPTIONS, not the rule. I LOVE my old coin op stuff. It would be GREAT if they kept getting more valuable and desirable. But it just ain't gonna happen.................

I don't see them as getting more valuable, but I do believe they may be desirable as a machine of interest not as an investment. I think the interest will be there when you can have a machine that's 100 years old and still be able to pay it.