Jennings Mints of Quality - My Grandpa's antique slot 2.0

[shortrackskater]

Yep I got it! I watched it a year on Ebay and decided I better act, before someone else does.
Now I got questions!
I got the back panel open. The aftermarket lock was easy to just twist off! Inside I found this thing... looks like it belongs somewhere on a coin chute I think - see picture 2.
Picture 3 and 4 shows the cash box and back of coin head. I'm not sure if they're original. The box looks old and "tinny," so I think it may be original. The back of the head is only held on by one screw and doesn't fit that flush but maybe that's how they were?
Does anyone (like Jackpot!) know if this had an award plate on it? It doesn't pay on one cherry on the left but does pay when there's two. I haven't played it much yet.
I have no idea how to get the back door off!
And... what is a "delayed pay unit" ??
What year is this? Serial number is 58774

[shortrackskater]

pics...

[cp]

The part in  pic 2 does go on the coin chute,  attaches just above the coin tube. Your cash box is original.  If you remove the screw, carefully,  on the back of the coin head... you may see that the other 2 screws were twisted off / broken... At least from your pic that's what I see.   To gain access to the back,  open the front panel (casting)  and on the bottom of the base plate you should see a "locking slide"  assembly  ....  look for a flat piece of metal that sticks up about  3/4"   in the very front of the base... pull the locking slide bar forward.  You should then, have access to the back "door"  ...lift the back door up and off.  (there should be a small "lift"  tab on the back door.)    I don't recall that particular machine having an  award card.   The  future pay or delay pay feature  was to  get around gambling laws back then.   You weren't exactly gambling if you knew that you were going to "win".   Also,  the Quality Mints feature is another attempt to get around the laws... you  aren't gambling...  you are buying a roll of mints.  That particular machine probably had a side mint vendor attached  on the right side of the cabinet.  (check for slotted hole in the wood )    The old machines  that you have are usually a  2/4  pay.    2 Cherries  pay 2    /   2 cherries and  Bell/Lemon  pay  4.  As you read  on the front casting... "and..... Premium Checks".....   Originally they were set up to accept nickels.... and dispense "tokens"  or (premium checks).... with holes in the token... "Good for  5c in trade".   The nickel played would be diverted to the cash box and,  if you played the tokens... they would go to the coin / pay tube to be recycled.  It's along  the same  idea of today's arcade.... Play $5 in cash/ quarters  and get   a bucket full tickets you can trade in for a plastic spider ring !   

  Have fun with your new toy !

[shortrackskater]

Thank you for the information. I didn't even notice that the screws were broken off until I zoomed into my own picture! My camera is better than my own eyes.
NOTE ADDED: screws weren't broken, just gunk in holes!
And it seems to pay out perfectly too. It's bringing back some old memories of my grandfathers slot. 
Unfortunately I don't have the key for the front panel. It looks like an original lock so I'd rather not drill it out if I don't have to.

[ramegoom]

Coin cover goes here. I just went thru a very similar mechanism as yours:


Most of the Jennings gooseneck mechanisms are similar to yours. I have done two of them so far, got them working perfectly, and now I'm working on a Mills gooseneck where the internals are very similar. I think back in the early 30's every manufacturer copied everyone else.

[CVslots]

I seen there's a similar, if not identical, machine on Phoenix Craigslist. What's the chance?

[shortrackskater]

Similar...not identical! That one has the round coin window. Mine (like my Grandpa's) had the square coin window. 

I just installed a new lock on the back panel. I still have to figure out how to get the front panel off without killing the lock.
 

[jay]

Just a stab in the dark.....Can you get to the front from the back ?

[ramegoom]

That front lock can be picked easily. Those Yale locks were simple 5 tumbler locks. I'm pretty sure that you would need to remove the front casting to access the lever that locks the back into place. But that's a moot point now that the back is not original.

So, if you can remove the mechanism from the case, I would take the empty case to a locksmith, have it picked, then fit a new key to the lock. The tumblers can be removed and matched to an original ODJ key (look for a Jennings - Yale key that fits the lock) and then it'd be about as authentic as you can get.

There are reproduction castings available for the rear castings, both top and bottom. And if you are lucky, you might be able to find a genuine Jennings lock for the bottom casting as well. Original keys always make these machines more valuable.

[shortrackskater]

I don't think I can remove the mech from back unless I get the big back panel off which I thought I could only do if I get the front panel off, which has the lock with no key!
I did get some screws for the back of the coin head though... the holes looked at first like the screws had broken off in them. It was just gunk!

[shortrackskater]

Coin cover goes here. I just went thru a very similar mechanism as yours:


Most of the Jennings gooseneck mechanisms are similar to yours. I have done two of them so far, got them working perfectly, and now I'm working on a Mills gooseneck where the internals are very similar. I think back in the early 30's every manufacturer copied everyone else.

What does it do? Cover the coin yes... haha but mine works without it.

[ramegoom]

Inside, there is a coin detector pin which passes thru the coin guide. This prevents the handle from being pulled without a valid coin in the mechanism. No doubt, someone tied the lever back with a cable tie or such, which would then give you a "free play" with the machine. However, without the coin tube filled by way of coins-in, should a win occur, there would be no payout. There should also be a "check" detector pin that routes the played coins into the coin tube to be won and replayed, where if it were a nickel, it'd be routed into the coin box. Checks look like a nickel with a hole drilled thru the center.

Kind of more fun with nickels. Especially when you win a match. And it'd be easy to convert back. I always keep a cup full of nickels on the machine for that reason.

You need to haul that machine to the locksmith shop, who will be able to find some of the hidden features.

[shortrackskater]

Thanks!
Still a little lost on that checks and coins part. It has nickels in it and pays them out fine. I think I'll understand better when I get that front cover off. I do remember my Grandpa had tied a string around to the back. I remember pulling it when I ran out of nickels!
And I'm still not clear what the coin covers purpose is.

[ramegoom]

Without the cover, the coin could possibly fly out and drop into the cabinet. The coin cover keeps the coins within the chute that either fills the jackpot, or fills the coin box. Once the coins fill the tube, they route over the filled tube into a chute. That's where the cast brass part plays into the mix.

[shortrackskater]

That makes sense.
One of the members said this machine had the "delayed pay" system...
I just know noticed (duh) that this little meter gave the numerical win amount. Sometimes two cherries gives two coins and sometimes gives four. The meter seems to work fine.

[Jackpot]

That makes sense.
One of the members said this machine had the "delayed pay" system...
I just know noticed (duh) that this little meter gave the numerical win amount. Sometimes two cherries gives two coins and sometimes gives four. The meter seems to work fine.

Delayed pay was a way around the law in some states; delay pay meant just that, you would not get what you won until you played the game one more time. See the win on the reels in your photo, it paid 8 coins but it didn't give them to you yet. To receive them you have to play the machine again, so this was an argument under the law that this was not really gambling. Because you knew what you would win on the next play---8 coins. If there was not a win on the reels the display would read "O", and that is what you would get on the next play "0" even if the reels said you would get paid 2, not until the next play.
 Jackpot
 

[Jackpot]

Yep I got it! I watched it a year on Ebay and decided I better act, before someone else does.
Now I got questions!
I got the back panel open. The aftermarket lock was easy to just twist off! Inside I found this thing... looks like it belongs somewhere on a coin chute I think - see picture 2.
Picture 3 and 4 shows the cash box and back of coin head. I'm not sure if they're original. The box looks old and "tinny," so I think it may be original. The back of the head is only held on by one screw and doesn't fit that flush but maybe that's how they were?
Does anyone (like Jackpot!) know if this had an award plate on it? It doesn't pay on one cherry on the left but does pay when there's two. I haven't played it much yet.
I have no idea how to get the back door off!
And... what is a "delayed pay unit" ??
What year is this? Serial number is 58774

Your serial number: 58774 shows your machine was made between 1927 and 1929, you serial number is closer to the 1927 numbers then to the 1929 numbers, so I would guess late 1927 to early 1928. Quote: The box looks old and "tinny," Then I would say it is original. Quote: I found this thing... looks like it belongs somewhere on a coin chute , This is called a splash tube cover and information given below on it is correct. Quote: It doesn't pay on one cherry on the left but does pay when there's two. Then this could be a one cherry pay machine which is most likey right. Not sure about what this machine used for an award card, I will have to look into that.
Jackpot
Jackpot

[Jackpot]

Coin cover goes here. I just went thru a very similar mechanism as yours:


Most of the Jennings gooseneck mechanisms are similar to yours. I have done two of them so far, got them working perfectly, and now I'm working on a Mills gooseneck where the internals are very similar. I think back in the early 30's every manufacturer copied everyone else.

What does it do? Cover the coin yes... haha but mine works without it.

It's a "cover I guess" but it is much more then that, these heads are really two parts, front part and back part, I think screws were missing because someone got a coin stuck and thought they could just pull the cover off. Well you cant, it is not that sample, you have to remove the entire coin head and take several more screws out before it will come apart in half.
Jackpot

[shortrackskater]

Thanks everyone again and thanks jackpot for the itemized answers as well.
With regard to the payouts, the machine does pay at the time of the "win." When it hit the two oranges and bar, the meter went to 8 and the 8 coins came out, no delay. 


Hopefully today I'll be taking it to a local locksmith to get s key for the front lock.

[Jackpot]

Thanks everyone again and thanks jackpot for the itemized answers as well.
With regard to the payouts, the machine does pay at the time of the "win." When it hit the two oranges and bar, the meter went to 8 and the 8 coins came out, no delay. 


Hopefully today I'll be taking it to a local locksmith to get s key for the front lock.

OK....., no delay on payout, then your missing a small flat arm some hardware and a thin plate that fits under the cabinet base plate, and slides into the paycup casting to close it off, which holds the coins trying to go to the payout cup from the win to delay it, from dropping into the cup, the next play releases this arm, pulls back the slide, and allows the coins that dropped from the last win, to fall into the cup. This is a common missing assembly, and very hard to find, easy to install, but you have to find this missing assembly first. Later in life this future was not needed so the delay Assembly's were removed and dumped in the garbage. I think I have see two or three Assembly's for sale in the many years that I have been watching ebay. I might have this set, but I might of sold it also, I am just not sure. Look under you cabinet base plate inside the machine and you will maybe be able to see something is missing that would be attached under this plate and try to see a slot in the back of the payout cup at the top, just before the cup attaches into the base plate. If your missing this assembly and want me to see if I have it or look for this stuff, maybe take a photo of the area under that base plate or say above where the coin box sits but to the left and let me know. Your Yale lock might be easy to pick as some one told you, but if the locksmith has trouble with it, tell him this early Yale lock could have one or two mushroom pin tumblers in the lock, this makes it a very hard lock to pick, I know, I had one and you need to to pick it in a totally different way. It took me days but I did beat it.
Jackpot