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**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => Other Reel Games => Topic started by: Jasonmichael on July 04, 2014, 02:15:26 PM

Title: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 04, 2014, 02:15:26 PM
Hi all:


I bought this machine on CL a couple of weeks ago not working.  I work on IGT stuff but figured, for the price, it'd be a good way to get into some older stuff.  I somehow managed to get it working (though it still needs to be oiled and for a new candle to be installed) - there's a video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY#ws) -  The fix was despite a nearly absolute lack of information on the web (searched high and low and didn't ever find even one of these in a "skill stop" version even mentioned anywhere).  Really, the fact that it is working now, is more of a miracle than a testament to any skill...  I was able to find a manual for a Jennings 400 which looks just like this machine without the "skill stop" feature.


Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about these machines.  Whether I can change out the "skill stop" and convert to a regular machine, what the value (range for condition) might be, how many of them they made, et cetera...


I'm hoping to get the 24 volt light bulbs that go in to light up the coin in, call attendant, prize lines, et cetera, as well. Again, any info would be great!


YOU TUBE VIDEO LINK:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY#ws)


Thanks for any help you might be able to provide - even leads would be great!


Thanks!



Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: buybestslots on July 04, 2014, 05:31:11 PM
if it was a  arcade used game its going to payout over 100% don't get too deep in it  its worth about the same as a jap slot we had some had hard time selling those , jenning were a lot of trouble
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Badbaud on July 04, 2014, 09:29:00 PM
Hi all:


I bought this machine on CL a couple of weeks ago not working.  I work on IGT stuff but figured, for the price, it'd be a good way to get into some older stuff.  I somehow managed to get it working (though it still needs to be oiled and for a new candle to be installed) - there's a video here: [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY]www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY[/url] ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY#ws[/url]) -  The fix was despite a nearly absolute lack of information on the web (searched high and low and didn't ever find even one of these in a "skill stop" version even mentioned anywhere).  Really, the fact that it is working now, is more of a miracle than a testament to any skill...  I was able to find a manual for a Jennings 400 which looks just like this machine without the "skill stop" feature.


Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about these machines.  Whether I can change out the "skill stop" and convert to a regular machine, what the value (range for condition) might be, how many of them they made, et cetera...


I'm hoping to get the 24 volt light bulbs that go in to light up the coin in, call attendant, prize lines, et cetera, as well. Again, any info would be great!


YOU TUBE VIDEO LINK:  [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY]www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY[/url] ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZzBdJ_YQY#ws[/url])


Thanks for any help you might be able to provide - even leads would be great!


Thanks!


The 24 volt lamps are easy to find.

Don't waste time trying to remove the skill stop feature, I am sure the board has been heavily modified.

Would love to see some pictures of the inside of the machine, especially of the main computer board and the power supply behind the hopper.

Of the 4 we have gotten into the shop over the past years I have only been able to get 2 to work.

We have some old, blurry, schematics to work with and without board extenders I need to solder a wire onto a test point then attach it to my scope lead in order to take a reading. Then un-solder it and solder it onto the next test point.

I have devised a way to replace the power supply with a newer one and how to eliminate the battery but your machine appears to be working beyond those problems.

My motto is "works fine, lasts a long time, don't f**k with it".
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 05, 2014, 11:31:30 AM
Thanks for the notes!  Here are a bunch of pictures for you. 


Please let me know where I can get those 24v bulbs - I need to order about 25 of them and am eager to get this up to 100%!


Also, any thoughts on value?  Sounds like it may not be anywhere near what I was hoping - but it must be at least a couple hundred bucks...no?


Thanks!
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 05, 2014, 11:34:08 AM
A few more pics including one of a small toggle switch located just behind the leftmost reel on the board - any idea what this is for?
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 05, 2014, 11:36:30 AM
Also, if you're looking for a clearer schematic, you can download the original J400 book, including schematics, free at this site:   http://www.jenningsslots.com/ (http://www.jenningsslots.com/)
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: CommTech on July 05, 2014, 01:29:50 PM
Vary interesting machine!  I never knew Jennings made a Skill Stop machine.  Thank you for sharing!  :1:
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: buybestslots on July 05, 2014, 01:36:50 PM
I think they were after market skill stops we had a few we got from nj shore  they payout 100% + not much fun
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Badbaud on July 05, 2014, 02:30:14 PM
Also, if you're looking for a clearer schematic, you can download the original J400 book, including schematics, free at this site:   [url]http://www.jenningsslots.com/[/url] ([url]http://www.jenningsslots.com/[/url])


Nice manual but no schematics.
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Badbaud on July 05, 2014, 02:31:21 PM
A few more pics including one of a small toggle switch located just behind the leftmost reel on the board - any idea what this is for?

You own the machine, why not flip the switch and see what it does?
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 05, 2014, 03:25:02 PM
I did think about that but didn't want to mess anything up now that the machine is working...so I thought I'd ask...

How about a source on those 24v bulbs?

And did you get what you needed from the photos?  Need any more?
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Badbaud on July 05, 2014, 08:42:24 PM
The photos were fine, as I suspected the board was heavily modified.

When I get back to the shop I'll look up the lamp part number, I know the number is 3 digits, just don't remember it off the top of my head.
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 05, 2014, 09:03:12 PM
Great.  Thank you!
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Badbaud on July 05, 2014, 09:46:02 PM
Out of curiosity are all of the lamps missing?

If they are I can't believe one of those metal tabs that contacts the back of the lamps hasn't shorted to the PC trace.

All of the lamps may have been removed to support the skill stop feature?

Are all of the lamps dead, did you try an Ohm meter on them?
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 05, 2014, 10:19:33 PM
I believe they're all missing.  As part of my testing I bent the connectors back from each of the spots and checked the circuits, all of which were good.  It did not work until after I did this, which, I suppose, is to be expected. 
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 08, 2014, 09:27:07 PM
Did you find that light bulb info for me?  I'm eager to get these bulbs ordered and installed.  Thanks!
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Badbaud on July 08, 2014, 09:41:12 PM
Agggh! I'll write myself a note.

Got hung up with a 5500 Pro Slot board that randomly resets and 5 boxes of 4 card rack boards that needed to be stripped for parts plus 2 service calls.
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 08, 2014, 10:21:06 PM
Clearly a busy man!  I appreciate the help!
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: shortrackskater on July 09, 2014, 10:50:56 AM
I think it's great the way it is. That's the kind of skill stop I'm much rather have...nice METAL and not plastic! Hope you will leave it as it is. Thanks for posting. I had never seen one of these either.
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Badbaud on July 09, 2014, 05:56:18 PM
Clearly a busy man!  I appreciate the help!

The lamps are #387 and are 28 Volt.

Sorry again for the brain fart yesterday.
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 09, 2014, 06:44:46 PM
Awesome.  Thank you again!
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: ramegoom on July 11, 2014, 06:18:07 PM
I have one of those skill stop logic boards, not sure if it is functional since I don't have a matching machine:
http://www.ramegoom.com/john/j400_skillstop_modded/skillstop_mod_top.jpg (http://www.ramegoom.com/john/j400_skillstop_modded/skillstop_mod_top.jpg)

I am pretty sure a standard logic board would work in place of the skill stop board. The piggyback board manages the stops, and the board is heavily modified. I think Jennings used the same logic board circuits for all of their production, with extensive trace modifications for different machines (1 coin, 3 coin, 5 coin, one line, two lines, three lines, etc.). I have dozens of those Jennings machines stacked on pallets, which I will someday get to restoring:
http://www.ramegoom.com/john/jennings400/jennings_slots_24.jpg (http://www.ramegoom.com/john/jennings400/jennings_slots_24.jpg)

They have been sitting since the 90's so they will need some TLC. As I dig into these, I'll post my findings, repairs, fixes and so on.
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Badbaud on July 11, 2014, 08:28:39 PM
Wow, you should contact service@jenningsslots.com they do everything Jennings from what I hear.
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 11, 2014, 09:05:06 PM
Would you be willing to part with one of the boards?  And, if so, what would you have to have for it?  Thanks for sharing the pics.  Makes my mouth water seeing all of those machines just waiting to be played with. 
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: ramegoom on July 12, 2014, 04:40:57 PM
Actually, I'm not even sure they all have logic boards. I picked them up in Chicago from a filled storage unit, put them on pallets and shipped them to Colorado, where they're still sitting. At around the same time, I bought a boatload of Bally E series machines which I delved into first.

Now I'm pretty much done with those Bally's, so it's getting to be time to bite into the Jennings. Soon...
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 12, 2014, 04:56:41 PM
Very cool.  I want to be you (or many others on this board) when I grow up!  If you do end up having any parts available, please do let me know.  Thanks!
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: ramegoom on July 12, 2014, 06:26:04 PM
I will definitely have some spare parts after this project gets underway. Out of 25 machine, I hope to have maybe 20 of them fully functional, and there are a few that are missing key parts.
I got this one going 100% about two years ago. Great looking example of these machines:

(https://newlifegames.com/nlg/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ramegoom.com%2Fjohn%2Fjennings400%2Fjennings_J400-1.jpg&hash=9dd2ebe18fcbe749e0b5e0ff76e34959d49655e9)
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 12, 2014, 06:38:14 PM
That's gorgeous.  Do you happen to have any spare reset keys?  I had to remove the lock and would love to put it back in.  Also--any glass?  Let me know!  Thanks again!

Jason
Title: Re: 1978 Jennings skill stop slot machine - Do you know anything about this thing?
Post by: Jasonmichael on July 12, 2014, 06:41:32 PM
Door lock key and lock, too?
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