Financial District in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Liberty Bell Slot Machine

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 14, 2010

1. Liberty Bell Slot Machine Marker

Inscription. Charles August Fey began inventing and manufacturing slot machines in 1894. Fey pioneered many innovations of coin operated gaming devices in his San Francisco workshop at 406 Market Street, including the original three-reel bell slot machine in 1898. The international popularity of the bell slot machines attests to Fey's ingenuity as an enterprising inventor whose basic design of the three reel slot machine continues to be used in mechanical gaming devices today.

Erected 1984 by E Clampus Vitus and the California State Department of Parks and Recreation. (Marker Number 937.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1826.

Location. 37° 47.463′ N, 122° 23.961′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in the Financial District. Marker is at the intersection of Market Street and Bush Street, on the left when traveling east on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Shoreline of San Francisco Bay (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Shoreline of San Francisco Bay

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(a few steps from this marker); Crown Zellerbach Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of First California State Fair (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); “The Orient Building” (about 700 feet away); The Old Chamber of Commerce Building (about 800 feet away); William Alexander Leidesdorff (about 800 feet away); Union Bank Building (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. The marker is mounted on a brick monument facing Market Street. The marker is rather inconspicuous, sited under a tree next to the exit of an underground parking lot.

Also see . . . The Liberty Bell and the Liberty Belle: An Interview with Marshall Fey. "In 1898 Fey built a machine that forever changed the face of slot machines; it was called the Card Bell. It was a three-reel, staggered stop, with an automatic payout design; a design that dominated the slot industry until the age of electronics and is still prevalent even now. Because of the dominance of his design,
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 14, 2010

2. Liberty Bell Slot Machine Marker - Wide View
Charles Fey is universally regarded as the inventor of the slot machine. The Card Bell was so named because it had playing card symbols on its reels, however, a year later Fey changed the symbols to include stars and bells and renamed the machine the Liberty Bell. The machine was a huge success and for many, many years the phrase "bell-type machine" became the industry's standard lingo to describe the three-reel, staggered stop, automatic payout design." (Submitted on March 25, 2010.)

Additional commentary.
1. Liberty Bell Slot Machine Marker Repaired
I have had photographs of this marker on my personal web site since 2008. On 31 October 2019, I received an email from the manager of the Inspection & Enforcement Division, Bureau of Street Use & Mapping, San Francisco Department of Public Works. The email, which included copies of the images at the top of my web page, read:

Do you know the party responsible for maintenance and repair of the Liberty Bell Slot Machine located at 406 Market Street at Battery? Your assistance is much appreciated.

I replied:

California landmarks are nominated by private individuals and reviewed and approved by the State Historical Resources Commission and California
Photographed By Alvis Hendley, November 28, 2019

3. Liberty Bell Slot Machine Marker
State Parks. The markers and bases are funded by private individuals, not the State of California. The slot machine marker was sponsored (a long time ago) by E Clampus Vitus, an organization that is still active and has erected many historical markers in California and Nevada. I don’t know which ECV chapter sponsored this marker, but I would guess it’s Yerba Buena #1.

ECV YB1
PO Box 25012
San Mateo, CA 94402

If no one claims responsibility for the marker, two organizations that might be interested in maintaining it are the Nevada State Museum in Carson City or the State of Nevada Gaming Commission. It would be a shame to lose this marker. How many people know that the slot machine was invented in San Francisco?

On Thanksgiving Day, I was in the Financial District and walked to the nearby Liberty Bell Marker to see why it needed to be repaired. I was pleased to discover that the Clampers had already repaired it on November 10th and signed their work.

— Submitted December 2, 2019, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California.

Top of the Liberty Bell Slot Machine Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alvis Hendley, November 28, 2019

4. Top of the Liberty Bell Slot Machine Marker

Yerba Buena E Clampus Vitus #1 Nov 10 19

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 2,588 times since then and 241 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 3, 4. submitted on December 2, 2019, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.