The Liberty Bell

The first ever slot machine was invented by Charles Fey in 1895 in San Francisco, California. There already existed look-alike coin machines, imitating such famous card game as poker. Those ‘poker machines’ offered gums, cigarettes and drinks as a prize.

The invention of Liberty Bell slot had marked the beginning of the new era of gambling – the slots era. Unlike poker machines, Liberty Bell offered money prizes – the reason of its huge success and popularity.  The Liberty Bell slot machine weighed over 100 pounds of cast iron. It was the first 3-reel slot machine with 5 symbols on each reel: diamonds, spades, hearts, horseshoes and, of course, liberty bells. It is difficult to believe that then were only few symbols, while now Star Wars and Indiana Jones themes are easy to find. As the reels turned, the symbols would come to rest in different reel positions. If three of the right symbols came to rest on the payline, the player would win coins in return. Usually The Liberty Bell gave a fifty cent payout to winners Due to the popularity of Charles Fey's design; slot machines followed the classic 3 reel concept for decades to come.

It is not surprising that first slots became extremely popular far off the San Francisco area in a very short time.  Charles Fey opened a workshop where he continued to work on the new slots, modifying and upgrading them. In of spite anti-gambling resolution, Charles Fey didn’t give up and produced machines decade after decade.

The Liberty Bell slot became a real piece of history as the first slot machine. Nowadays the real Liberty Bell can be found in The Liberty Belle Saloon and Restaurant in Reno, which is owned by Fey’s grandchildren, who preserve Fey's legacy in the history of slot machines.

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(Separate Box) Interesting fact: there’s a landmark in San Francisco that marks the invention of the Slot machine. It’s considered to be one of the most popular tourists’ attractions. The landmark says: "Charles August Fey began inventing and manufacturing slot machines in 1894. Fey pioneered many innovations of coin operated gaming devices in his San Francisco workshop at 406 Market Street, including the original three-reel bell slot machine in 1898. The international popularity of the bell slot machines attests to Fey's ingenuity as an enterprising inventor whose basic design of the three reel slot machine continues to be used in mechanical gaming devices today."