Evans Bang Tail Slot Machine

[Sodak Bob]

The guy says it is from the 30's - any info or idea on worth???   

[Larry]

They tend to sell for anywhere between $350.00 - $650.00 unrestored.  It looks like a thirty's model because it still has the metal trim around the glass instead of wood.  Usually the glass is cracked on all these machines.  My Winterbook was not cracked because someone installed a plexi top over it.

I paid $450.00 for a Winterbook and $500.00 for a Roletto jr.  Very cool machine.

I also have two manuals and schematics for these games if you need to figure anything out.

[SIGNGUY]

Cool machine, if your not interested Bob, let me know..

[Ltransam]

 I know Larry The Expert On These . Is Is Really Nice & Coll to Play

[rayg]

Wow, that's pretty cool, it has kind of a Art Deco look to it.
How does it work it looks like it has something to do with a horse race?

[Larry]

It's a spinner type of slot machine.  Evans made a few varieties of these.  The Bangtails and Winterbooks were horse themed games.  You would put a nickel or quarter in the slot for a particular number or horse that you would want to win.  Then you would pull the handle down and the spinner arm would rotate, after a second or two the odds selector would rotate, and then the arm would stop.  If it stopped on your number, you would win whatever the odds were for that number.  This game looks like an earlier version.  I think that there are no blank spots to land on, all numbers.  I would need a better glass shot to make sure.

With the earlier Evans games, like the Rolleto Jr, you would win if you played every selection, which were in blocks.  Financially, you still could loose.  It would cost you $1.75 to cover all bets and you could possibly win only .50c.  The payouts were either 2,4,6,8,10,12,or 24 coins.  

Later versions of the Winterbook had seven selections, horse 1 - 7 to bet on, and seven winning spots to land on but it also had fourteen loosing spots to land on too.  This was more challenging


They are cool games.  Here's a link to my old Rolletto Jr.  I sold it to make room for my Acme Roulette game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bij-9lD3bbQ

[rayg]

Hey Larry, Thanks for all the info, I really liked the video.... For the year this machine was made  it seem way ahead of it's time..... very slick, I like it more now!  I bet this machine in the casino's today would still be a big money maker ....I know I would play it 

[Larry]

It actually would be for them.  It pays out well, but it always seems to win in the end.

I would suggest that you stick with the Evans over the Buckleys as far as brands go.  The Evans are horizontal machines where the Buckleys were more verticle.  I found them awkward to play.  Also, I would buy the newer 50's models with the wood trim around the glass instead of the metal trim.  The chances of loosing, on the glass, increases.  More empty spots.  I think it is a 3:1 ratio, The payouts are higher, up to 30 coins, individual coins are dispensed, so it really makes a cool sound like a machine gun, there also is another feature where you can win a Winterbook which is

#1  You play that horse.
#2  Your horse wins.
#3  A thirty comes on the odds selector (one thirty per horse).
#4  Your horses number is picked on another random set of lights in a circle on the glass.

If you match all the above, rat,ta,tat, rat,ta,tat, rat,ta,tat, rat,ta,tat, rat,ta,tat, rat,ta,tat, rat,ta,tat, rat,ta,tat, rat,ta,tat, rat,ta,tat, CLUNK.
Thirty coins and a Winterbook token are your rewards.  Minimum Winterbook token was $2.50  and the max was $117.50.  I found one $117.50 token once but the guy didn't want to part with it.  My max is $25.00, I think??

It is a fun game at a relatively cheap cost.  I have two schematics so even though they aren't for my game, it points you in the right direction.

Oh yeah, incase you were wondering, I hit the Winterbook three different times in five years.

[ciawarrior]

pretty cool

[Cokemachinesandmore]

Larry's rolletto jr was an awesome little machine. I would have bought it from Larry if not for the glass being damaged. His ACME roulette game is really cool too.  You should post a video of that one Larry.