Liberty Bell: The First Slot Machine

Liberty Bell: The First Slot Machine

• WHEN WAS THE FIRST SLOT MACHINE INVENTED?
• CHARLES FEY – THE MAN WHO INVENTED THE SLOT MACHINE
• LIBERTY BELL – THE FIRST SLOT MACHINE
• WHAT MADE THE LIBERTY BELL SPECIAL?
• LEGACY OF THE LIBERTY BELL

When Was The First Slot Machine Invented?

The first slot machine was invented in San Francisco in 1895 and was named Liberty Bell. It seems hard to believe that it was less than 130 years ago that the first one-armed bandit spun for the first time, given how popular and omnipresent online slots have become today.

It was difficult to significantly improve upon Charles Fey’s initial design, and for many years it remained the undisputed king of the slot world. However, as time marched on, so too did technology and in 1963, Bally released Money Honey, the world’s first electromechanical slot.

By now technology was developing at a rapid pace, and it wasn’t long before the next leap forward. In 1976, a company called Fortune Coin Co harnessed the power of video screens to bring the world the first video slot. Once approved by the Nevada Gambling Commission, these new video slots would become a presence in every casino in Las Vegas, with the unmistakable sound of coins being paid out becoming an indelible part of the Vegas experience!

Charles Fey – The Man Who Invented the Slot Machine

Regardless of the developments in the latter half of the 20^th century, it cannot be overstated how Charles Fey’s initial design changed the casino world. Born August Fey, Charles was one of fifteen children, and his early working life was spent working for a farming tool manufacturer. It was here that he would pick up the skills that would make him possibly the most notable slot machine manufacturer of all time.

Having spent the latter half of his teenage years living and working in the UK and France, Charles settled down in San Francisco when he was 23. It was in San Francisco that he met Theodore Holtz and Gustav Friedrich Wilhelm Schultze and founded an electrical equipment company with them.

Interestingly, Schultze invented a slot machine of his own in 1893, the “Horseshoe Slot Machine”. This slot included a mechanism by which winnings could automatically be paid out to pointers, rather than requiring an actual attendant to hand over the winnings. This became incredibly popular, then two years later, Charles Fey went one step further, and the Liberty Bell was born.

Liberty Bell – The First Slot Machine

Liberty Bell was a groundbreaking invention, and to this day slot machines remain true to many of the features that made it so popular in 1895. The slot had three spinning reels with five different symbols. These were horseshoes, hearts, spades, diamonds and the eponymous Liberty Bell. While other payouts were possible, the highest was awarded when the player had three Liberty Bells in a row. This would have netted the winning player 50 cents, around R326 in today’s money.

At the time, gambling had become one of the most popular pastimes in the USA, especially in California, where Charles lived. This meant that the Liberty Bell came at a time when there was thriving demand for an innovative new slot. Liberty Bell was almost universally popular, and soon it was found in the bars and barber shops of San Francisco and beyond.

Unfortunately for Charles, gambling was illegal in California which meant that he was not able to apply for a patent for his new device. This meant that his design, which was easy to replicate, was soon copied by competitors all over the state and country. This means that the man who invented one of the greatest money-making devices of all time barely profited from it himself!

What Made The Liberty Bell Special?

What set the Liberty Bell apart was the automatic payout feature. It may seem like nothing today, but this was truly groundbreaking in 1895. This meant that the bars and saloons that hosted slot machine machines no longer had to have an attendant physically hand over winnings to punters. Charles’ system of levers and gears that made this possible was truly a significant technological advancement at the time.

The Liberty Bell’s design meant that the machine was compact and tough. That it was so compact meant that it could be afforded the space it needed in most saloons and barbershops. That it was robust meant that it could withstand almost continuous use without being damaged and thus becoming a victim of its own success!

In addition to this, the fact that it was not possible for Charles to get a patent for his design meant that it was easily imitated. This resulted in thousands of copycats popping up across the country within a rapid amount of time. This allowed the Liberty Bell to be responsible for a seismic shift in how people interacted with slot machines, not just in San Francisco and California but all across the country!

Legacy of the Liberty Bell

It is not just the impact that Liberty Bell had in 1895 that makes it so special, it is the impact that it still has today. The visual symbols and spinning reels were an innovative feature when the Liberty Bell made its debut, and almost 130 years later they remain the foundation of almost every digital and electronic slot machine in the world!

The original Liberty Bell slot machine has also become something of a collector’s item, with a price tag to match its impact! In 2017, one of Charles Fey’s machines was sold at auction for an eye-watering R3.2 Million!

The impact of Charles’ invention is undoubtedly still present today in every land-based and online casino. It may often be overlooked, but given how it paved the way for gambling through the next 130 years, it could be argued that this simple slot machine is one of the most important innovations in the history of gambling.