SOLD! Bally 5 Cent Reliance Dice Game Slot Machine

Rolling the Dice: The Golden Era of the 1936 Bally Reliance 5-Cent Slot Machine

In the constellation of golden-age coin-operated machines, few stars burn brighter than the Bally Reliance. Combining the mechanical ingenuity of traditional slot mechanisms with the high-stakes suspense of a live craps table, this 1930s masterpiece remains one of the most sought-after mechanical marvels in the collecting world today.

Whether you are a seasoned coin-op enthusiast or a lover of mid-century Americana, encountering an exceptionally restored model is a rare treat. Today, we are pulling back the curtain on a pristine, counter-top beauty that is not only ready to play but serves as a breathtaking monument to industrial design.

A Masterpiece of Mechanical Craps

Introduced in 1936 by the Bally Manufacturing Company, the Reliance arrived during a fascinating evolutionary pivot for coin-operated novelties. While standard three-reel fruit machines dominated the market, Bally recognized an appetite for something entirely different: a fully automated dice game.

The Reliance is not just a slot machine with dice imagery; it is a true mechanical simulator of the classic casino game of craps. When a player drops a nickel into the slot and pulls the lever, two real dice are violently spun within an interior cage before settling onto a felted field.

The machine logic dynamically tracks the game state: rolling a natural 7 or 11 on the first roll results in an immediate automatic payout. Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 is an instant "crap out," collecting the coin.

What truly sets the Bally Reliance apart as an engineering marvel is its ability to handle a "point." If the player rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the machine mechanically remembers that number, shifting its internal logic. The player must then continue to pull the handle to roll again, attempting to hit their established point before throwing a 7. The sophisticated mechanical memory required to execute this multi-stage logic out of pure springs, gears, and levers represents the absolute zenith of pre-war American engineering.

The Rarity of the Top Marquee

As counter-top models, these machines lived grueling lives on the bars of smoky taverns, hidden speakeasies, and neighborhood cigar shops. Because they were heavy, tightly packed, and frequently moved or transported under the watchful eye of local authorities, external components were incredibly prone to damage.

Chief among these fragile elements was the original metal and glass top marquee. Designed to sit high above the machine to catch the eyes of patrons across a crowded room, these marquees were almost always broken, lost, or intentionally removed during storage. To find a Bally Reliance today that still retains its eye-catching, authentic top marquee is an extraordinary rarity—elevating a standard machine into a true museum-grade center-piece.

Spotlight on an Exceptional Restoration

The featured specimen is an absolute triumph of vintage preservation, having undergone an exacting, historically accurate restoration by the renowned specialist Jeff Frahm. Every detail of this counter-top beauty has been meticulously brought back to its 1936 glory, offering an authentic glimpse into the tactile, sensory experience of a vintage gaming parlor.

Pop open the back door, and the machine continues to impress. It retains its rare original paper instructions pasted cleanly to the interior woodwork, acting as a historical roadmap for its next caretaker. It comes fully outfitted with its critical functional accessories: a proper vintage coin box to catch the cascade of nickels, along with the precise lock and key needed to secure the heavy cast-iron and wood housing.

Machine Specifications & Features

• Model: Bally Reliance Dice Game Slot Machine

• Year of Production: Circa 1936

• Denomination: 5 Cents (Nickel)

• Restored By: Jeff Frahm (Exceptional Restoration)

• Dimensions: 16 ½" W x 16 ½" H x 11 ½" D

• Inclusions: Original top marquee, interior paper instructions, coin box, lock & key

• Condition: Fully operational and ready to play!

  
  

An Unmatched Collector's Investment

For the serious collector of vintage coin-op, petroliana, or rare gaming history, the Bally Reliance represents the pinnacle of interactive historical art. It stands as a testament to an era when engineering meant intricate clockwork mechanisms and entertainment was forged out of solid iron and hand-finished wood.

This beautifully restored masterpiece is completely ready for display and gameplay alike, prepared to serve as the crowning jewel of its next home. Be sure to look closely at the photos to appreciate the flawless finish work on this historic survivor!