Antique Slot Machine Manuals: How to Find Service Literature and Reference Books
The single most useful tool for working on an antique slot machine isn't a screwdriver. It's the right piece of paper. Original service instructions, parts catalogs and good reference books tell you how a mechanism is supposed to work, what parts belong where, and what your machine looked like when it left the factory.
Trouble is, a lot of this literature is scarce, and what you do find is a mix of original period paper, reprints and photocopies, and modern collector-written books. This guide sorts out what each type is good for and how to find it without overpaying or buying the wrong thing.
The three kinds of literature, and what each is for
Original factory paper
Service instructions, parts lists, sales flyers and catalogs printed by the maker. Authoritative and collectible, but scarce.
Reprints and copies
Reproductions of factory paper. Best value for a workbench copy you don't mind getting greasy.
Collector reference books
Modern books written by collectors and historians. Strongest for identification, history and model comparisons.
Most collectors end up with a bit of all three. The reprint lives on the bench. The original, if you have one, lives in an archival sleeve. The reference books live on a shelf where you can grab them when a listing doesn't look right.
Service manuals and repair instructions
Factory service instructions explain how to adjust and repair a mechanism: how the parts interact, what order things come apart in, and where adjustments are made. They're the most direct answer to “why won't my reels stop right?”
When you look for one, be specific. Makers built many related mechanisms over the years, and a manual for one series won't necessarily match another. Know your maker, your model or case style, and ideally your mechanism type before you buy. If you're not sure which you have, compare your machine to reference book photos and maker guides first. The maker pages linked from our home page are a good place to start.
To see what's out there, browse Mills slot machine service manuals on eBay and Jennings manuals on eBay. Read listings closely: many are reprints, which is fine as long as the listing says so.
Parts catalogs and parts lists
Parts lists are underrated. They give names and often numbers for each part, which makes it far easier to search for a replacement or describe what you need to a parts dealer. A parts list with exploded drawings is especially valuable when you're putting a mechanism back together and can't remember where a spring went.
Modern restoration-parts sellers sometimes publish their own catalogs with diagrams. These aren't factory literature, but they're practical and often easier to read. Keep in mind that they show reproduction parts, which may differ in small details from originals.
Collector reference books
Reference books are where most collectors learn what an original machine should look like. Good ones are photo-heavy, organized by maker and era, and explain the differences between related models. Marshall Fey's Slot Machines: A Pictorial History of the First 100 Years is one of the books collectors commonly cite as a general history. There are also maker-specific and type-specific books, including ones focused on trade stimulators and other countertop coin-op machines.
Shop antique slot machine reference books on Amazon and look at the table of contents and sample pages where you can. A book that covers your maker in depth is worth more to you than a broad survey with one page on it.
Some reference books include value estimates. Treat those as a snapshot from when the book was written, not a current answer. To research what a machine is doing in today's market, use completed sales and auction results, as described in our guide to researching old arcade machine sold prices.
Telling originals from reprints
This matters if you're paying a collector premium for original paper. A reprint is a perfectly good workbench copy, but it shouldn't be priced or described as an original.
| Clue | Often points to an original | Often points to a reprint or copy |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | Age-toned, consistent with its era, sometimes brittle | Bright white modern paper, uniform surface |
| Printing | Period printing methods, crisp type that sits in the paper | Toner or inkjet output, slight fuzziness from scanning |
| Staples and binding | Rusted or aged staples, period binding | Bright modern staples, comb or coil binding |
| Images | Sharp halftone dots under a loupe | Muddy or doubled dot patterns from copying a print |
| Labeling | None needed | Honest sellers mark reprints; some reprints say so on the cover |
None of these is proof alone. Look at several clues together, and when the price is significant, ask the seller directly whether it's original and get the answer in writing.
What to read first, by situation
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| Deciding whether to buy a machine | Reference book coverage of that maker and model, for originality checks |
| Machine works but needs adjustment | Service instructions for your mechanism type |
| Missing or broken parts | A parts list with drawings, then supplier catalogs |
| Researching history and dating | Reference books, then period catalogs and trade publications |
Where to look
- Online marketplaces. The broadest selection of both original and reprint literature. Check sold listings for original slot machine manuals to learn how they're described and how often they turn up.
- Coin-op shows and swap meets. A good place to handle originals in person and ask questions.
- Collector clubs and forums. Members often share scans for repair purposes and know which books are worth owning.
- Restoration parts suppliers. Many sell reprint manuals alongside parts.
- Libraries and archives. Trade publications and catalogs from the coin-op industry sometimes survive in library collections. Our home page links to a primary sources page.
Caring for original paper
Original literature is fragile. Use a reprint or a scan on the bench, and keep the original out of the workshop entirely. Store it flat, away from light, heat and humidity swings, in acid-free folders or archival sleeves. Don't laminate it, tape it, or try to bleach out stains.
Archival sleeves and folders are inexpensive. Look for products described as acid-free and archival, such as acid-free document sleeves on Amazon.
Build your own manual as you go
Even the best factory literature won't show your specific machine's quirks and repair history. Keep your own file: photos taken before and during disassembly, notes on adjustments, part sources, and anything that differed from the manual. Our post on documenting an antique slot machine before restoration covers how to photograph a machine in a way that's actually useful later.
Frequently asked questions
Is a reprint service manual good enough for repairs?
Usually, yes, as long as it's a clear reprint of the right manual for your maker and mechanism. Many collectors keep a reprint on the bench and store any original separately.
How do I know which manual fits my machine?
Identify your maker, case style and mechanism type first using reference books and maker guides. Then match the manual to that specific series rather than buying a general one.
Are price guides in reference books accurate?
They reflect the market when the book was written. For current value research, use completed sales and auction results instead.
Can I photocopy an original manual?
Making a working copy for your own bench use is common practice among collectors. Respect any copyright notices, and don't sell copies as originals.
Build a small library first
Before you buy parts or start taking a mechanism apart, invest in a few pieces of good literature: a reprint service manual for your machine, a parts list if you can find one, and a solid reference book on your maker. It costs little next to a single wrong part, and it turns guesswork into a plan.
For more research and restoration guides, browse the CoinSlots.co blog.