Similar to what would become the Liberty Bell, this machine had five spinning drums, each with ten cards on each drum.
We now know that this machine was an early adoption of a slot machine and poker cross over. Taking a step back in time and crossing over to New York in 1891, a machine was first created with a similar foundation to Charles Fey’s later Liberty Bell design. This simple game design is the foundation for many of the classic slots that are played throughout casinos online and on the gaming floor. This machine aimed to line up each of the three reels with the liberty bell symbol doing so would pay a jackpot of 10 coins, so at a single coin (5c) per spin, you would have the chance of winning back ten times your bet (50c jackpot). This machine had just one pay line, with each reel featuring five symbols – some you would recognize today – spades, hearts, diamonds, a horseshoe, and a bell. They were featuring three spinning reels operated by a handle and a single slot to place a coin into. The machine that Fey created was simple but complex in concept, and this machine was called the Liberty Bell. Modern slot machine games trace back to large and unique machines manufactured by an avid mechanic (and tinkerer) of the late 19th century, Charles Fey.
