It is because of the lever that the slang expression “one armed bandits” came into existence. This is one of the reasons why these machines were so popular. This manual approach to playing slots gave players the feeling that they could control the game and the outcome. By pulling on this lever, you would stretch a spring inside the machine, which gradually stopped the reels from spinning. To start the game, you needed to pull down a lever, which would set the reels in motion. The Next Developmentsįor many more years, slot machines remained purely mechanical. The BAR symbol we recognise nowadays was introduced to slot machines at this time, and was based on the logo of the Bell-Fruit company. By 1908, the machine was found in most tobacconists, bowling alleys, shops and salons. In 1907, Chicago based manufacturer Herbert Mills produced a slot machine called the Operator Bell. These machines used fruit symbols, and prizes were paid out in chewing gum and sweets of the corresponding flavour. As cash prizes could no longer be distributed, the era of the fruit machine commenced. Despite slot machines being officially banned in 1902, the Liberty Bell continued to be manufactured.
