Quoted from Miguel351:So far, I've got half of my games set up for tokens. Over the last couple years, I've been able to purchase a few thousand tokens from various places and have also been able to procure a Rowe BC-35 locally, for cheap. There is a way to wire most all Rowe machines, regardless of model, so that you push the coin reject button and out spit some tokens(it's tied to the test button feature inside). The plan is to have them all on tokens with the changer setup so that you get the full arcade experience. With the Rowe machines, the hoppers are differently made to accept the different size ranges of tokens/quarters. Each are denoted on the front as to what sizes they are for. Hoppers can easily be swapped out, too. There are tokens that are slightly smaller or slightly larger than quarters and there are coin mechs made specifically for those sizes as well. Fairly easy to go with the smaller token size(.900) and convert the mechs over to that size and use a token changer/dispenser, too. When the time comes for a dispenser, there are lots of auction sites that regularly sell them throughout the year, just takes some Googling to find them. Good luck!
That’s what I did with my Rowe BC25. I picked up my Rowe machine from a local bowling alley for $190 in ‘14. I wired it so the coin eject dispenses four tokens on demand. And yes, I had to EBay for hoppers that would handle 984 sized tokens.
I don’t have my pins configured w/ 984 token mechs because I’m currently using all of the coin boxes for storage of rubbers, parts, coils, etc…, but everything else (MAME, ICE, MISTercade, slots, and dart machine) is configured for 984/.25 coin mechs.
Normally, if it’s just me in the gameroom, I just set all the machines to freeplay. The problem with tokens is that when you have parties, you always have to worry about your guests walking off with them.
One of my guests recently suggested that I charge $20 at the door for tokens, and after they use them all up, they get the $20 back. It was a good idea, but then I guess I’d have to check to see if I got the $20 of tokens in my machines after they leave. So, I just keep the machines on freeplay.
The token machine is more of a conversation piece rather than an actual purposed coin dispenser. And believe me, people do naturally gravitate to it eventually and start asking me about it.
Old pictures…
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