Berger “Chicago Ridge” Slot Machine Restoration

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: After Restoration

: Rear Door

: Advertising Plate for One of the Many Chicago Ridge Variations, Depicted with Floor Tie-Downs to Prevent Rocking

: As Purchased. This Would be “Excellent Condition with Nice Patina” on eBay

: American Picker’s Rusty Gold!

: Actually a Box Case, Not a Basket Case

: Electromagnetic Payout Actuators – Rusty, But All There

: Not an Egyptian Artifact – This was the Plastic Coin Contact Panel as Found

: Rear View of Contact Panel

: Completed Cabinet – Unfinished

: Rear View

: Mechanism Board Reassembly – Note Repaired Contact Panel

: Old Photo of Rough Cast Parts Next to Wood Patterns

: The Curved Top Is Rigid and Smooth with No Hint of Internal Kerfing

: This Coin Slide Lever Prevents Cheating By Blocking Direct Access to Coin Mechanism

: The Numbers on the Color Sectors Indicate the Payout if Player Lands on the Color That Was Bet

: This Window Shows the Last Coins Played for Slug Detection

: Coin Cup and Hooks Used to Tie Cabinet to Floor

: Mechanism of Completed Restoration

: Brass Pins at Wheel Edge are Wired to Rings on the Commutator Hub

: Detail of Commutator Hub

: This Finger Stops the Wheel and Closes and Electrical Circuit to Activate Payout

: Better View of Pins and Commutator

: Catch Grabs Actuator Arm – Prevents False Coin Release if Machine is Rocked

: Simple Back Door Latches Hook Over Wood Crosspiece

: Hinged Top Detail

: Timer Clock is Winding Up as Front Handle is Pressed

: Shorter Lever With Pin is Pulling the Longer lever as Handle is Pressed

: Latch Pin Ready to Release and Allow Wheel to Spin

: Leather Strap Winds the Wheel Ratchet When Handle is Depressed

: A Fluid-Damped Door Closer Slows Return When Handle is Released

: Electromagnetic Latch for Releasing Handle

: The Cloth Bag Collects Overflow Coins When Ramps are Full

: Only Second Lever From Left is Free to Rotate on Shaft

: Part of Wheel – Spinning Mechanism

: Serial Number Stamped on Back of Wheel

: Large Wheel-Spinning Spring is Contained in Reel on Left of Shaft

: New Spring in Timer Clock

: New Wire Pigtails and Fabric Covers on Coils

: Actuators Look Like Telegraph Sounders

: These Actuators Release Coins Filling the Guides Above

: This Electromagnetic Actuator Releases the Front Handle

: Screen Printed Paper Wheel & Artwork Transparencies – This Was a Reject

: Inside of Curved Top is Veneered to Hide Kerf Cuts

: Wheel Wiring – Sectors of the Same Color are Tied Together

: Large Wheel-Spinning Spring is Contained in Reel on Left of Shaft

: Wood Block and Spring Roller Prevent Wheel From Stopping on One of Two Top Payouts

: Randomizer – The Ratchet Shaft is Slightly Eccentric, Changing Spring Tension as Ratchet Wheel Advances