Bally Pays a Plenty Reel Strips

[big_e]

Another project..... See pics, I am missing 3 reel strips.  I doubt I will be able to find them, so how would one go about determining what each symbol should be in which position.  I can have them made, but I have no idea where to begin.  If I use reel 3 as a master.  Do the depths of each slot stay consistent for that symbol across the other reels?  So I could measure each and match with a symbol then use the reverse method to determine symbol on other reels.
Thanks

[Amechanic]

I know where you picked that one up👍.. I might know where strip could be found. I would need to have the model number off the cabinets OS Tag. I own two of these machines.

[big_e]

Wow thank you!  This could help me a ton.  I would love to hear any history on this machine if you have it.  I bought this and 6 other games from a guy looking to get out of the hobby.
Ill grab a pic of the tag later after work.
Thanks

E

[Amechanic]

I know who that was. They were offered to me, but too far to go to pick them up. Would have liked to had them but it takes the $$$ and time, which I don’t seem to have much of either lately 🤨

[GOS]

the reel disks should help -  i worked on alot of these - there also JUMBO versions - if member - there are double strips - so 1 and 4  and 2 and 3 were the same - if i remember correctly.   If you get the reel disk  - I MAY still have some listings on my computer that can help.

[big_e]

Thanks GOS
By reel disk, you mean the cog on the side of the reel that the latches fall into to stop them from spinning?  If so, yes I have those and was curious if the different depths on those for each symbol were always the same.
Anything you can share is appreciated.  Thank you much.
E

[GOS]

on the side of each disk are numbers/letters stamped - those match up to the reel strips. ALSO - you do have one strip - if you peel back CAREFULLY at the seam - there is a reel strip number -  this info will help

[big_e]

on the side of each disk are numbers/letters stamped - those match up to the reel strips. ALSO - you do have one strip - if you peel back CAREFULLY at the seam - there is a reel strip number -  this info will help

OS tag: 989-7 989-206 The indexing plate numbers appear to all be the same?  584779 The one strip on reel 3 says:
 BD-BT-3 BALLY MFG. CORP. 7, 27, 1974     M-225-169-K

[GOS]

the machine uses 2 strips  225-    
169   170
 4 REEL   
7   7
    
B   W
   
W   B
   
B   W
   
B   W
   
W   B
   
B   W
   
B   W
   
W   B
   
B   W
   
B   W
   
W   B

[big_e]

Thank you!


May I ask how you figured this out?  Is there a document that explains this based on tag #?

[GOS]

40 years in the business - you find or make your own documents - this one i made.

[DavidLee]

This should be fairly simple since there are only 3 symbols and a blanks.
The deepest cut in the reel index disc will be the 7 and most likely only one deep cut in each disc.
Bars will be the next cut a little shorter than the 7s, watermelons cut will be shorter than the bars.
Ghost / blank spot will be the very shallow cut in the disc.
Start by cutting some paper strips to fit reel circumference. Set all the reels on 7s and tape the paper strips so you can mark the seven on the paper. Secure the paper strip all the way around. It should be fairly easy to mark the blanks because of the shallow cut. Use the letter “G” for ghost instead of b as not confuse it with the bars. Set the knowen reel to the bar mark the other reels the match the same disc cut depth. This can be done easily by comparing the index arm depth. After that the only blanks should be the watermelons. Double check them to be sure. Leave the strips on the reels, mark the metal reels themselves at the center of the 7s.
Set up some payouts to make sure the strips are correctly marked.