These early machines were mostly created out of wood, and were even less decorative than their metal contemporaries. Additionally, there are also slot machines that were built on metal frames so that they could stand upright, much like gumball machines. These early registers were made out of various heavy metals and usually featured a less ostentatious design element in comparison to their modern counterparts.
Generally, the oldest slot machines were significantly smaller than those that're currently being used and were approximately the size of an old cash register. Yet, if you can't find any hard documentation stating the machine's manufacturing date, you can rely on the visual component to see if you can figure out a ballpark date range. Reputable antique slot machine dealers will usually offer a certificate of authenticity with the machine. A real antique machine should have a serial number, unlike a reproduction slot machine. The more original parts that an antique slot machine has, the more value it holds.
