Expert: Rodger Knutson - 2/22/2009

Question
I have a Bally model 83I slot
I have had it in storage for over 10 years.   I have a key but cant seem to get the
door to set and lock-- any ideas
Also this is  1978-1979 vintage 1 line machine in good condition-- what value
might I expect this to have on the market today?

Answer
Hi Richard,

First, if your key will turn a little like it is trying to turn the lock, try jiggling the door up and down to get it open. If it is open and you can't get the door key to lock far enough to get the key out of the lock, this is another thing. This can be corrected by pulling the locking bar which is bolted to the cabinet out. There three hooks on it, you can take a big screw driver and pry on each hook to pull this bar out a little. What happens here is that the door slams shut sometimes with the look not completely open and this drives the locking bar mounted on the cabinet in and out of adjustment. The locking tabs are cut so it pulls the door in as you lock it, if this bar is in to far the lock cant pull the door in enough to get at the remove key slot to pull the key out. This is a very common problem with the Ballys, so I fix it quick with a screw driver, by prying on all three lock tabs to pull this bar out a little. Your Model 813 Bally, is the neat 800-900 series small cabinet size, a classic machine old machine, but not to be confused with Bally model the CLASSIC 6000 series of 1978. Your model the 1968 Model 831 "3-LINE PLAY", is Bally first Line Machine. Value in a blue book, or guide is listed at $1,500.00 in average condition but this is way wrong for our times right now. The truth is, on ebay say you might get $800.00 for it. Maybe on Crag's list you could ask 1,200.00 and get it, but the written value is 1,500.00. You my or my not get that value unless you are very lucky and find the right buyer. These will come back, I am sure of it, it's just that the average buyer doesn't have the doe right now to buy the toys. On your other slot, I would have to know the model number to even give you a guess, But value would be about the same unless it was one of the rare models, and there are some.
Thank You
Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com