Collectibles-General (Antiques)/1940 Bally High Hand

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Rating(1-10)	Knowledgeability = 10	Clarity of Response = 10	Politeness = 10
Comment	Actually, I bought it from the original owner, who had it listed in the "Recycler" as "1941 Bally Poker Machine". Since Calif. then required collectible slot machines to be manufactured 1941 or earlier, I honestly expected a newer video type machine, with his description of "1941" in the ad to keep the cops away. In fact, when he took me to his garage, and pulled off the blanket that was covering it, my jaw dropped. He said he bought it new, in 1941, along with 3 others, "from some guys from Chicago", and that he originally had them in a Bar that he owned, in Lake Arrowhead. He had sold off the other 3 over the years, and wanted to sell his last one for pocket money for a trip to Las Vegas. I had no idea what it was, but it sure looked like a 1941 era console. When he plugged it in, it lit up, but it did not otherwise function. I paid him $300 for it, and took my chances with it. When I was in Las Vegas, a couple of months after I picked it up, I went to a slot machine parts and maintenance store on Industrial Avenue, trying to find a correct "nickle tube". While waiting for service, I glanced at a magazine rack near the sales counter, and saw a "Loose Change" magazine from 1982 on the bottom row, which featured a picture of the High Hand console on the cover. They had 2 copies, so I bought them both. I never found the correct nickle tube for it, but there is a picture of the interior in the Loose Change article that shows what it looks like and how it functions between the coin drop and the payout motor. Thank you for your response. If you think someone in the So Cal area who can help me with the final electro-mechanical restoration, I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks again, Barry



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Rodger Knutson

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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

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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!

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