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Manufactured by the Sidebottom Novelty
Co. of California, circa. 1946-56.
It is unique for it’s "jukebox" style with curved glass top (yes,
real glass), and for the 360-degree play field.
It is truly "super" because of a heavy, well-engineered, mechanical
mechanism, and for the three playing options that it provides to the
location operator. It can be operated any one of these ways:
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as a
standard play-for-merchandise digger,
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as a
"Buy Back Plan" digger for cash payoffs
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as a
"Free Games" payoff game giving 20 free games on a meter
each time a prize is won (the games can be played-off one-by-one
with a button located under the coin entry, or an attendant can
pay the player in cash for accumulated games and then clear the
meter).
Students of coin machine history know
that this game could not have been shipped legally in interstate
commerce after 1951 due to Federal law: the Johnson Interstate
Transportation Act of 1951. This pay-out digger was classified
as a gambling device.
This is possibly the best one of this make and model digger I know
of today. I have restored it in my shop mechanically and
cosmetically. (I did not re-plate the few plated parts as they have
a fine patina.) I have had experience with 3 of this make of digger
and this is the only one that has had genuine glass in the curved
glass top. It also has very nice walnut wood veneer, original back
mirror (with new decal), and a Bally 5-cent coin entry (basket
style). The optional free-games attachment mounted on the cabinet
top is the factory original.
All of the mechanical and electrical systems work exactly as they
should, and I have no doubt that this game could operate another 60
years in a commercial location.
Currently available for acquisition.
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