Aristocrat jackpot meter window, symbols & gold award puzzle

[polaris]

Can someone tell me why some Aristocrat machines have a small window in the side?

[treefrog]

There should be a meter in there, often missing...

[badpenny]

And one of the reasons it's often missing is because it's an Arcadian or similar mech living inside.

Beware of Clubmasters bearing fruits!

[aristomatic]

It's always puzzled me why there is one on the Clubmaster and a similar one on an Arcadian, but not on a Nevada style. I'm sure there is a simple answer.

GP

[hutto]

Did you say Clubmasters bearing fruit? Pray tell.

[badpenny]

I remember two occasions in the last six months where you were standing in my house Dave and we were discussing Clubmasters.

We chatted about Arcadian and Sheerline mechs being fitted into a Clubmaster case, and that Clubmasters were Pokies not Fruits.
So unless you see one with cards as symbols, don't look twice. Hence, Clubmasters bearing Fruits are not to be trusted.


BP

[polaris]

Thanks for clearing up the window puzzle... Regarding fruits, that was actually the next question. I bought this machine with fruits and award card. It looks pretty authentic. Is it possible that this mech has been changed at some point and is there a way of telling?

[jingle]

Talking about clubmasters
Did any of you bandit collectors
Bid on the one in marshalls auction house
Couple of weeks ago
I was in the room and it was bought by an old
Guy I know who has never had any machines,,
It was in really good condition
Very nice original with keys
The porter was holding them,,
So I couldn't look in
So backed out at 300 as I only wanted to sell on,,,,
Turns out there was 800 sixpences in side
Over half were under 1946
He scrapped the coins for 220 pound
And left the Elizabethan in the machine

[treefrog]

I do have a couple of machines with meters on. There is no difference between the mechs in the Sheerline range to the Clubmaster type... I had a Clubmaster with matching serial numbers, but it had been converted to fruits. I suspect it's more a case of preference, as in the UK I guess fruits were more recognised. I've not seen one with a Gold award before - it may have been an add-on.

[polaris]

I've only just bought this and am delighted with it. I've been after one for ages. I tried looking for one with an award but I can't find any info. I've never had one or seen inside, so I have nothing to go on, but even the hole for the award to drop into the cash tray looks original.

[treefrog]

On the right side of the machine there should be a manufacturer's plate with the serial number on. This should match the mechanism number on the base plate of the mechanism at the front. Very rarely do they, and nice if you get a match.

[badpenny]

I recall an incident about 20 years ago of someone being sold a Clubmaster with fruits reels as being all authentic.
After the event, the collector concerned became suspicious and asked for proof they were ever supplied with fruit reels. He was in the wrong hobby really if perfection and unadulteration was essential to him, however it takes all sorts.

The vendor went down the, "You bought it, you prove they weren't" route and found himself facing a civil court action.
No proof was forthcoming and he got his £300 back.

Personally, I believe they all left Australialand as Pokies. Has anyone seen them in arcades? I found they were popular in clubs and read somewhere the Krays favoured them in their clubs.

All of mine have had paper reels, which would be more in keeping with the age.
I'm intrigued by the gold award tube as there is no blank on the apron of mine to allow such an addition, plus beneath that there is a metal angle piece that doesn't give a natural access to the payout chute. So I suspect there have been holes cut to accommodate that.

I've heard many times over the years that fruits on a Clubmaster means a change of mechanism from an Arcadian. I've still to hear from anyone who can stick their neck out and say otherwise, let alone with a Special Award. However, never say never eh?

BP

[polaris]

BP, I note your machine has metal cogs on the reels. I have no idea about the age of these machines, or what they should be like. I love it though. Mine has plastic cogs, which may be a giveaway as to the age, if anyone can confirm. I will have a closer look at the apron to see if this has indeed been altered. Nice addition, nevertheless.

[aristomatic]

Whilst on the subject of being puzzled...... Why do these Aristocrat playing card reels have x2 10s next to each other on reel one? However, I suppose you could ask why not, just as easily........................................... First time I got one, I thought someone had overlayed an extra 10 over a bar to reduce the payouts, but every one I have had since has been the same, and the picture posted above also has a similar layout? Maybe it was an Aussie or Aussie pokie thing, I dont know, but I have never seen another Aristocrat with an original reel bundle layout with the same symbols next to each other (NB: excepting later modified OXOs), e.g. two cherries next to each other.

With regard to the extra handfill payout tube, I am puzzled as to why there is no drop jackpot option for this Aristocrat model. I always thought it was a model with great styling to be sited within clubs and casinos, but virtually everyone you see has lower awards of different amounts but no major jackpot payouts. Was it brought out when licensing laws did not allow them?

Ps. my Clubmaster has a metal cog reel bundle too, but it has no handfill tube or aperture to allow it in the plate.

GP

[treefrog]

I wonder if that token vendor is a modified dropping jackpot, as the bolts holding it all in place look later and the dropping jackpot top plates are very similar.

Below is a picture of the meter on my Clubmaster, tracking jackpots....

[aristomatic]

Mine has the meter still attached, to be seen through the window but, if nearly all of these didn't have jackpots, then the meter is less useful? As the jackpot payout is only couple of coins more than the bells etc. and there are no tokens to reconcile at the bar? So why bother having a meter for the jackpot trip, when most don't have one and the consensus seems to be this token payout is likely to be a later addition? Then by having a meter you then go to the trouble of placing an inspection window to view it, but they don't have meters and windows on their own Nevada line of machines.

Perhaps the Aussies have a clearer take on things.

GP

[badpenny]

Compare the design and effort that went into a Clubmaster to a few years later with the Sheerline... but I'm sure I've had a Sheerline at some point that had a blank for a window to accommodate a counter. I guess you could overthink this one, it's probably nothing significant.

[coppinpr]

was it brought out when licensing laws did not allow them.

That could be the reason why some enterprising operator added this hand fill. I believe that, at one time, only variable jackpots were banned, not fixed amounts, so this would get 'round the problem.

[widget2k4]

Topic merged - Site Admin.

This will probably be so obvious once someone tells me but what is the extra hole in the side of the Aristocrat machines for?

[youngerap]

I think mine had a play counter and this was the window through which to read it.