Press release: 1965-01-12: Slugs Bad Business (Las Vegas Sun; page 16)

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: newspaperarchive.com

If you're spending the afternoon filing down an old washer for use in a slot machine, forget it. You’re idea just won't work. Most of today's slot machines are equipped with a device which refuses slugs of any type.

 The device checks each coin for weight, size and balance, as well as for material. A few slots are not equipped with  the devices, but Mickey Wichinsky of Frontier Coin Machine Co., said more and more machines were coming equipped with a slug detection device. “The coin control used on machines will simply refuse anything but an authentic coin" Wichinsky said, “On our particular machine, made by Bally of Chicago, a national coin accepter regulates which coins are taken “The same type of control is used on many other machines, and has been used the world over”.

 Wichinsky said that occasionally, someone will come up with some perfect slugs as far as balance, weight and everything else is concerned. "Last week, several downtown casinos found slugs in their machines, but it doesn't happen too often. The machines are just too critical ” Several downtown slot managers said there had been some problems recently. but not to any great extent. One slot boss said it would take a counterfeiter too long to make an accurate slug, to make the scheme feasible. But it's a different story with the Central Telephone Co. Gil Thomas, an executive with the firm, said slugs were a constant problem. “We get every conceivable coin and slug.” Thomas said, “I've seen everything from Mexican coins to washers used and even plastic chips.” 

Thomas said that a coin checker in pay telephones would frequently halt iron washers, “but copper or other materials seem to defy detection.” “We get many slugs every week and it is a source of considerable economic loss, but we hope a new telephone device will curb some of the problems ” 

Thomas said that several telephones were being experimented with which will kick out "any slug ‘ I'm not sure how it works, but a coin will not be accepted unless it is 100 per cent American and authentic," Thomas said. 

Percy Villa, owner of Villa Vending Co, said that machines today practically defied slugs. “I can remember 20 years ago, when slugs almost drove us crazy. Today it’s no problem. You can count thousands of dollars without hitting a slug. Villa said most machines are now equipped with technical devices which refuse all but perfect coins. In fact, the only trouble we ever have is with Mexican coins, one of which passes for a quarter.” 

Howard Crow, senior license inspector for Las Vegas, said there was little problem with slugs in parking meters. Crow said that the slugs which have accumulated didn't even fill a quarter jar,” “and we've been saving them a long time,” he said. Slug construction in Las Vegas is a slowly diminshing business.