"Coin Units" aka "Slug Rejectors", Coin Acceptors---

[Ron Rich]

Hi All,

I have maintained that I could have been a very rich person, had I found a sure-fire way to CONSISTENTLY, roll a coin down hill !

Coin units, with all their above, aka's, do a fairly good job of this--however--they all have enemies that prevent this from happening, like people have things that make them ill.

Most juke makers purchased the coin handling equipment post WW 2, from either "National Rejectors Inc." (NRi), or Coin Acceptors Inc. (aka "CoinCo"). NRi, as far as I know, was the first to offer a "three in one- slug rejector", having a single slot for nickels, dimes, and quarters ("NDQ" units).  This unit evolved from time to time--never really changed a whole lot--just got "better". Added on was the top section, developed by Royal MFG Co. (San Francisco), for the "half-dollar" . Then one day mid 1950's, as I heard it, a bunch of NRi engineers, got mad at the company and walked out, forming a new company they named, Coin Acceptors inc., or, "CoinCo".  NRi, and CoinCo, as far as I know still exist,today (10/10/19)(see Ken's note below).

The 4 coin "self contained", NDQ-HD, units came out in the late 1960's (67 models for Seeburg). Both companies were out with one at about the same time-- I personally do not care for the NRi version--I much prefer CoinCo's.

OK--Very seldom--in fact, IMHO, NEVER, do coin units need "adjustment", unless "someone", has "adjusted it"!  99% of the time they need NO "lubrication"(see below).  MOST of the problems they have are caused by plain old "dirt" ! Coins ARE dirty !! This dirt, builds up and causes jams, as it changes the tolerances (adjustments).

The only thing one must do to re-adjust it, properly, is, clean it*.  I clean them with hot* soapy (dishwasher detergent, or dish-washing hand soap, preferred) I soak* them in the hot soapy water for a few minutes (time depends on amount of dirt, I can see), use only a toothbrush, or similar--NO "metal scraping tools" !) --rinse them in hot* water. Dry totally and check for dirt on the "coin rails"---This dirt can be removed if still needed with a round tooth pick ! One some models, you MAY need to open up the nickel and dime sections and clean them. You may also need to remove the cradles, and clean out the bearing surface, --I use a round toothpick for this--wipe off the post too. BTW- Some old Service Manuals say to clean them with "Tet"--Do NOT use TET !! You may use al-key haul-- but do not waste 100 proof booze, on them !

"Lubrication"-- All washed units may need a VERY slight amount of "lubrication" on the gate, pivot points, ONLY! --ONE HALF DROP, of 20 wt. oil, on the hinges is suggested--a VERY small "dab", of graphite grease on any sliding, scavenger parts--Do not get oil/grease in coin path !!!!  NOTHING else !!  "plastic to plastic" parts--ZERO lube. !

* caution--don't burn yourself in the hot water !--AND--watch out on units made from plastic--some will not take the "hot" water, use warm water--

CoinCo's "pick (all plastic) type" units fail to accept coins which are worn on the edge, as they use that edge to verify the coin-no edge serrations -bad coin, as far as it's concerned (the "picks" do "go bad"--Can NOT be "bent", nor "adjusted"--Must be replaced !! ).

HTH,

EDIT: 5/9/20   Here's a PDF of NRi's "Service manual"  of the late 40's-- "900x" pages are from the Seeburg Master manual--and some of the Service Manuals of those years-- I STRONGLY suggest you NOT follow any instructions on "cleaning-lubrication" given in these pages -- see above !

Slug Rejectors PDF   or  SlugRejector.pdf   ( You may need to copy/paste here--)-- Note: as of 10/may 2020, I have a PDF of CoinCo's 70 series manual--this is the next series model used by all juke makers from about mid 1950's, to about 1967. This copy is for the vending version, which differs in that a roller, and a funnel, has been added to the top of the unit. If you would like a copy, email me ([e-mail])-- remind me I archived this on 5/10/20, so I can find it for you !

Ron Rich

[Ken Layton]

Ron:

Several years ago Crane Merchandising Systems bought out National Rejectors Inc (and National Vendors the vending machine division of National Rejectors). Crane also bought out Mars Electronics (a.k.a. MEI Global) the dollar bill acceptor manufacturer.

cranems.com/

Coinco (Coin Acceptors, Inc) is still around, but now owned by Happ Controls.

www.coinco.com/

As to cleaning coin acceptor units, I like to use Mean Green spray cleaner and a toothbrush. When it come to cleaning the "cradles", I like to use a pipe cleaner soaked in lighter fluid to clean the inside hole of the cradle. I use a tiny straight slot screwdriver with a magnet on it to pop off the tiny E-rings that hold on the cradles.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Ken,
Thanks for the updates-- I have also used "pipe cleaners" but no longer say so, as the last time I searched for some to buy, they were like hen's teeth to find--don't some people still smoke pipes ?? And oh, BTW--"Happ Controls", has been "bought out" too-- Now is "Suzzo (SP ?) -Happ". Ron Rich

[viperz]

Thank you for this write-up gentlemen. The reject mechanism on my Rowe AMI was sticking and needed help coming back, I was going to clean and oil it... After reading this thread, washed the whole mechanism with 99.9% isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush. Reject works great now.

[barockteer]

The slug rejector from my M100C accepts quarters and dimes and rejects pennies properly, but it rejects legitimate nickels. I have carefully followed Ron's instructions for giving it a bath. It is much cleaner now, without the dust bunnies it had to start with, but it still rejects good nickels. I have the 'national slug rejector.pdf' but it doesn't exactly match the photos.

I have not 'adjusted' it in any way. What should I do next?

Any help would be much appreciated!

-Tony

[Ron Rich]

Hi Tony,
My GUESS woodbe--- This phono charges 10 cents per play ?? If so, the nickel is purposely 'strapped out". Look at your service manual-- most of the early 100 model manuals, show how to adjust that rejector in them ! Ron Rich

[barockteer]

Rich-
I think you were right!

I carefully removed the reject rail, which revealed the 5c pendulum, which was (probably intentionally) jammed with a strange little wad of bunched up paper. (I'm pretty sure it was a matchbook cover from a Stuckey's). I carefully removed the wad with a dental pick, which allowed the pendulum to move freely. After reassembly, it now works perfectly, accepting nickels as bona fide coin of the realm! (I took pictures which I would have posted if I could figure out how).
This also fits with the fact that despite still having badges that indicate 6 plays for a quarter, the CCU has been modified to give only 4 plays for a quarter.

My theory goes like this:

At some point the owner decided to raise the rates to 4/quarter, and moved the quarter solenoid on the CCU. Then the patrons figured out they could get 5 songs for $0.25 by putting in nickels. So  the owner decided to discourage that by plugging up the nickel pendulum.

This is so cool, between figuring out how it was supposed to work, to fixing it so it works like that again, and then thinking about the life this old juke experienced...

Thanks,

-Tony

[Ron Rich]

Hi Tony,
I keeptellin' youz guyz-- I ain't nevar rong ! I wood suspect the operator knew that one wood get 5 or 6 songs for that nickel-- and besides, Seeburg's instructions said that nickels needed to be "blocked" when increasing the coin price to 10 cents -- ( they also sold an update kit that fit the slug rejector-- diverted every other nickel, into the cashbox, without hitting the switch-- ) Ron Rich

[barockteer]

Also found the nickel (green) and dime (yellow) wires were swapped at the coin switches, making it 1 play for a dime or 4 for a quarter! I fixed that too.

-Tony

[Ron Rich]

Hi All,
Hint on the CoinCo 850 series ( 4 in one) units. The nickel sweep return spring is OFTEN "lost". Prevention of this "loss" is easy ! Just re-position it from the "peg" holding it to the side of the unit, to the screw that sits directly above it. Remove the screw--carefully, as the adjustment is under it-- and loop the spring around the screw-- re install that screw, and place the other end of the spring on the sweep-- done ! Ron Rich

[thebwslaughterhouse]

Hi there,

We are new to the jukebox world and have received a Rock-Ola 424 Princess Royal as a gift. It works well but we've started having issues getting the coins to be accepted - they either go straight to the coin return slot or get stuck and we have to use the coin return button to release them. We were instructed by a person who sells jukes like this that the coin mech "easily removes" and just needs to be cleaned with soapy water, but we're having trouble figuring out this removal process. Unfortunately, the jukebox didn't come with a manual. Any suggestions or jumping off points would be amazing. Thanks!

[Ron Rich]

You should be able to lift it straight up/out of it's holder--it's most likely just "hooked in" by the pins on each side.--I do not recall this model's configuration-- Didja READ the very first post here ? Ron Rich