Expert: Rodger Knutson - 1/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: Can you identify this machine, could not find anything on it.

ANSWER: Hi Steven,

Yes, I know about your slot machine. It's a Pace-Space-Ace machine, and new to me, a Pace-Space-Ace-Allied machine! I had to fix one for a guy once and it was tough. I couldn't find no help any ware on it, since that time I have been looking for paper on it and found none. I guess Pace was bought out by a company called Ace, then was bought out or merged with a company called Ace, and new to me Intel a couple of weeks ago, a company called Allied ended up with it all and maybe it died there. This is a neat little small machine, very small compared to everything else out there, but some used telephone switching electronics in them like Clair Switches, and other things that are unfamiliar to the average slot technician out there, so most slot guys want to stay as far away from them as they can. The one I fixed had a host of problems, the first was the transformer was burned up. I had a time trying to find one with all the taps needed to fit inside the machine. I finally found an Bally 800 series transformer that had the right voltage taps and was small enough but larger then the original, that would fit inside the machine, this worked and I went on to find the rest of the problems, one being a broken main operating bar and I had to build a new one. I got it fixed but worked for free almost, as I put in tons of hours, and just charged about a third of what the machine was worth for fixing it, about .01 cents an hour I think plus I paid to machine the parts. Never again, but yes.... I know the machine and what it is.
Sincerely
Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Do you happen to know what year it is and how much they are worth if you do get them fixed?

Answer
Steven, this guy also has one of these, maybe you can help each other, would you write him at this address. it's Gerry.Ginaine@mjsoffe.com
Thank You
Rodger

Hi Steven,

Thank You for the nice feed back, I try hard to help people, some time doing hours or research for free and then someone slams we with low feed back and I want to quit and do something better with my time, that last time I got slammed I took myself off here for over two months. This was on a Bally High hand slot machine, I told the Gal everything ab out the machine, and even offered to copy and send her an article about it on my dime, she nailed be very low so I gave up for awhile. I think she would of gave me a 10 if I told her that her slot was worth a million dollars, but it wasn't and I gave her my best shot at value. So, anyway Steven, Thank You!

As for your question, it's a hard one. My guess as to what years these machine were made in, from like 1955 to 1964. I can tell you something about them, Pace sold out in December of 1950 when the federal anti-slot machine law was imminent, ("The Johnson act") with Pace (becoming Ace, then Space) with production moving to Franklin Park, an industrialized suburb of Chicago. In 1958 the new Ace "Pace" machine was introduced where they opened the front of the machine, we call that an "open front machine when describing the type of slot machine", and it was Pace/Ace/space that developed this design and the world followed with there new machines. Information starts to get fuzzy around here as to Alstate. Space owner owner Earl Missler became the the principal stockholder in the newly established Alstate Coin Machine Company located in Henderson Nevada. Primarily an operator of Space machines, Alstate also acted as a distributor, exporter, maintenance center and ultimately a manufacturer of Space products for its Nevada operation's. I think a ton of these ended up going to the U.S. Military Forces overseas. Well, that is what is in my nut shell about the whole thing. Oh, I think the whole thing ended with the company now called Coin Devices Inc., operating from 1964 to 1968 back in Illinois once again. Value, well as they say, the true value of an antique is what the seller is willing to sell it for and what the buyer is willing to pay for it. If I had to guess, I would say $500.00 to $900.00 somewhere.
Cheers
Rodger Knutson