The Antique Slot Display at Main Street Station

The antique slots of Main Street Station hearken to the early days of Vegas…

While visiting Main Street Station last month, I happened upon a collection of antique slot machines. These are the kind of slot machines I would drool over when browsing eBay.

Before slot makers IGT, Konami, and Bally–there were Jennings, Mills, and Watling.

With some dating back to the early 1930’s, the slot machines on display are not only a piece of Vegas history but of gambling history as well, frozen in time. The antique slot display at Main Street Station hearkens to a time before the lights, LCD Screens, bonus rounds, animations, TITO’s, dollar feeders, and touch screens of our modern-day slots. These classics were often played while standing, not seated.

On eBay, similar machines–in good, working condition–will typically fetch prices in the mid $2000 to $5000 range. At Main Street Station, you can look at them for free. Unfortunately, they are behind glass, so gameplay is not an option.

Here’s some of what you can expect from the antique slot display.

See the nickel display at the top of the machine? That was a system to deter the use of slugs. It gave any slot attendant the ability to walk by and ensure that only nickels were being used.

Fun fact: The very first slot machine was comprised of playing cards. Seriously. It had five drums, was based on poker and held fifty card faces.

For more of these antique beauties, see the slideshow below, and hover over the images for description.

[Images: Michael Movestro, Craft+Brand]

Michael Movestro

Michael Movestro founded Vegas Bright to continue the tradition when Vegas Chatter cashed out. Michael pays the bills, maintains the site, writes articles, hosts VBN – Vegas Bright Newscast.