Charles Fey

Overshadowing the previous trade simulators, Fey’s contraption made exhilarating advances with its distinguished feature of cash outs for winning combinations. The machine originally created included three reels with ten different symbols on each reel. Any one who line up three similar symbols i.e. three bells, spades, horseshoes, hearts, diamonds etc, hits the jack pot. Today this machine is fondly remembered as the “Liberty Bell” machine.

This novel invention at a time when technology was at its rudiment stages and with its three spinning wheels concept set the foundation and basis for all types of slot machines created later and up to now. One set back Fey experienced in his time was that gaming devices were not patented or protected under governing laws. Therefore marketing this unique product was not an option for Fey who instead made arrangements to install one of his slotting machines in many gambling saloons and likely places. He then proceeded to amass a 50% fee on any winnings.

Opportunities of hitting the jackpot was somewhat constricted in the early inventions of slot machines. Having ten different symbols in three reels meant the total combination outcome was all together thousand. The declared cash payout for a winner who hit the jack pot with similar winning combinations was about 750 coins allowing the house to retain a profit of 25%.

The winning combination

On the strength of unprecedented success of his invention, Fey entered in to a partnership with Mills Novelty Company’s owner Herbert Mills in 1907. Under the new partnership, Mills Company went on to launch a new machine “Operators Bell” with a new outlook carrying three reels that had 20 unique symbols in each reel. Another distinct feature was its gooseneck on coin entries. Instead of earlier symbols the machine carried new ones with different fruits and jack pot bells. The machines which weighed more than 100 pounds made good revenue for Mills Company as it went on to produce about 30,000 Operators Bells.

The slot machines quickly spread its reputation beyond the shores of United States and made its presence knows in a number of other states despite legal impediments. Las Vegas had its first slotting machine in 1940 when Bugsy Siegal installed a slot machine in his famous Flamingo Casino. Initially this machine targeted the many bored wives and female companions of the serious gaming table players and presented a pleasant distraction for them. However, with innovations and evolvements of modern techniques the scenario changed and today slot machines represent more than 80% of entire proceedings of a casino. When he invented his simple gaming device, Charles Fey, himself would not have perceived how his invention would transform the world of gambling.