Caille 4 Reel Superior Jackpot identified

[coppinpr]

I have a customer who wants new artwork for this machine, but he has no idea what it is! Can anyone help me I'm thinking possibly Callie and perhaps a copy. Appears to have 4 reels?

[brigham]

I think you're right with Caille.
Four-reel Superior Jackpot?

[john t peterson]

Definitely a copy. Here is the real thing: https://www.gameroomshow.com/product/ar ... t-machine/

J Peterson
Clone copy, USA

[pennymachines]

This page discusses the Four-reel Superior Jackpot reel strip symbol scheme, with illustrations: http://www.quadibloc.com/math/sloint.htm

symbols2.jpg (20.79 KiB) Viewed 898 times

The first four-reel conventional slot machine (five-reel machines with playing card symbols, and without automatic payout, predated the conventional slot machine) was one by Caille from 1930, well before the war, illustrated at right. Instead of extending the machine by adding another reel on the right, the Caille Grand Prize, a four-reel model of the Caille Superior, had one extra reel on the left; the only symbol on it was a lemon, the other positions being blank; thus, that lemon was required for a special larger jackpot, while the prizes for the combinations on the other three reels remained unaffected.

That resulted in a payout schedule like that illustrated as the first arrangement in the image above however, one could only win the grand prize if the symbols lined up also had the digits 1, 2, 3, and 4 overprinted on them, and this was not true of all the lemons on the second reel, all the bells on the third reel, or all the lemons on the fourth reel, so winning the prize was more unlikely than just having all the appropriate symbols lined up would be.

One set of reel strips for this machine had the following distribution of symbols:

scheme3.jpg (14.14 KiB) Viewed 896 times

Thus, out of 160,000 pulls, the four-reel jackpot would come up 32 times, or once out of 5,000 pulls. This prize was typically equivalent to 100 coins, so it was neither particularly larger nor particularly more unlikely, than a jackpot could be from a conventional three-reel machine.

Although the machine had automatic payout for the other prizes, the four-reel jackpot was awarded by the operator.

[coppinpr]

I would also say definitely a copy BUT I know for sure this man has had this machine since 1949. (his father was given it by a friend who was clearing old machines from his arcade) did they make copies in those days? I know the guy would never sell it, too much sentimental value to him (and he's worth a bit LOL)

[brigham]

Could it simply be a lower-spec. version for the solo operator?
(A Cowley, rather than an Oxford?)

[aristomatic]

Had it since 1949 and wants a new award card....

OK, he maybe on his 3rd set but made me chuckle

[aristomatic]

Has it got a Caille mechanism in it?

Copies or revampers tend to go with the most popular model, or cabinet style. You can maybe easily do different versions. So it's a little strange that the 4 reeler version was copied, unless it is easy to switch this version to the standard 3 reel version by maybe replacing or inserting options to the reel surround area?

I suppose an original is fairly rare in this country. I had an incomplete one I sold to a dealer in Mainland Europe, so seeing a copy over here generally even less likely? Likely our American members would have greater experience of Caille original and clone versions.

[coppinpr]

As yet, I've only seen one photo of the mech and that defiantly looks original from what I can see. It's not been used for 50 years and the mech looks like a haunted mansion with all the cobwebs but it looks good and it is a 4 reeler. I asked the guy to remove the mech, but he's had to ask me how to do it, so he is certainly no expert. I told him if it was original it might be worth £2000+ and he said he wouldn't sell it for twice that so I suspect he's genuine. He's no youngster and a respected businessman. I can't see a reason for him to lie. It's just that the castings look SO good and the lower casting is not right. He MIGHT want me to clean and service the mech for him, so more photos to follow I hope.

[spike]

I've got the Caille 4 reel. The bottom casting on yours doesn't look the same.
If you need any information or pictures of mine, private message me.