AboutMarc A. Hess Expertise I can answere questions on coin operated vending machines and arcade machines such as antique gumball and peanut venders, slot machines, juke boxes and pinball and arcade machines
Experience I have been collecting coin operated machines for over 20 years and maintain my own web page, www.thecoinopcollector.com
Organizations Coin Op Collectors Association
Education/Credentials I have a B.A. degree in history and political science and a Juris Doctorate degree
Expert: Marc A. Hess Date: 4/30/2007 Subject: Watling Rol-A-Tor Blue Seal slot machine
Question QUESTION: I have a Watling Rol-A-Tor Blue Seal slot machine, c. 1935, nickel play, with twin jackpot design. The machine appears to be at least partly functional. It takes coins, a lever pull spins the wheels, and it makes the correct payouts. However, the twin jackpot mechanism doesn't appear to be working correctly. I assume that coins are supposed to accumulate in both compartments until the jackpot occurs, at which point, one of the jackpot compartments should empty out. What's happening now is that every pull of the lever opens a gate below one of the jackpot compartments, so that coins cannot accumulate. I'm wondering if there is some way to keep these gates shut until a jackpot occurs. Also, I'd like to be able to manually fill the jackpots for display, without having to pump a bunch of nickels into the machine one by one. Is there a way to do this? Thanks, David.
ANSWER: David
Unfortunately I am not going to be able to diagnose and tell you how to repair your machine via e-mail. Many things could be causing your problem including the possibility that all the jackpot mechanism may not be present in the machine. Otherwise from what your describing there seems that there may be a problem w/ the payout slides so that every play is tripping the jackpot. You can also get a Watling operators manual on e-bay. They are regularly offered for sale.
As to manually filling the jack pot, you can you can do it. Remove the main mechanism and then above each jackpot there should be a chute that your can just manually feed coins into.
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QUESTION: Marc, When I removed the main mechanism, I saw that there was a way to reset the jackpots and close both gates. It remains to be seen whether or not the jackpot will pay off when it's hit, and if the gates will reset properly after a jackpot. Do these machines tend to have a mechanism for manually triggering a jackpot, a switch inside that I could trip? It would be nice to be able to test it. Thanks, David
Answer David
With the back door off put a coin in, pull the handle and then when the wheels are spinning grab the clock mechanism (the little thing that spins at the bottom on your right hand side of the mech). If you hold the clock you can turn the reel bundle freely and put it on 3 bars. Then release the clock, it will finish spinning and you will find out if the jackpot trips and then resets on the next coin. Only one side should trip at a time.
