AboutRodger Knutson Expertise I am an expert on old coin operated machines, slot machines, trade stimulator's, jukeboxes, old arcade machines, etc. I have been identifying these for people who respond to my web site listed below, for a few years now. In almost all cases I am able to tell them about their old coin operated machines, the year, the value, and other general information about their machines. I do not know much about soda vending machines, coin banks, or scales, but I will try to help you with these if I can. Please email photo's to: jackpot7@ix.netcom.com My web site is at: http://www.coinslots.com
Experience I bought my first slot machine, a .50 Cent Mills Black Cherry in 1969 and have been hooked from that time, I still have that Slot machine! Before that I found a open barrel full of old scraped jukebox wall boxes behind a restaurant, I wanted them all but never took a one of them. Anything that took a coin drove me nuts!
Question Rodger,
I lost key of my Bally 3 reel slot machine and can not open the door. Please advise.
Numbers on side plate are 809-N and MT-4661.
Also,would you tell me what is the value of this Bally machine today?
Thanks
Matthias
Answer Hi Matthias,
Wow, not much you can do on that door lock, two choices is all that I can think of, a lock smith with a set of picks, or a drill. No two machines are hardly keyed alike, when they come off the casino floors the locks are almost always removed. So the lock your working with is one that some dealer put on it. If it's a round lock, then find a large drill that will drill out just the center that turns, and once it is drilled out you still have to lift the door hardware and it looks by sliding down to hook on the top, center, and bottom of the cabinet. If you are sure the lock it free from the sliding door locking bar then you need to try to fish something in there to lift this bar up, Or, turn the whole machine upside down and rattle the door until the door locking bar falls down to release the door. Take a look at a manual to see the door locking hardware to get an idea of what you trying to work with. If your door is a little lose when it's locked, you have a good chance that this locking bar will drop for you if you turn the machine upside down after drilling the lock, if you door is real tight, well this may not even work for you.
Your 809 is a nice early E/M slot machine made in 1967, a Multiplier as there called. You might be money ahead to just grab your hand truck and take this machine up to the local locksmith and leave it with him to try to pick the lock. Value I would say for this machine is about $800.00 to as high as $1,500.00. Hope I have been some help to you.
