Key takeaways
- Built by Charles Fey in San Francisco.
- In the 1890s.
- Three reels, five symbols.
- The first to pay out automatically.
In shortThe Liberty Bell was a three-reel machine built by Charles Fey in San Francisco in the 1890s. It was the first to pay winnings automatically, and three bells paid the top prize.
How it worked
- Three spinning reels behind a small window.
- Five symbols: horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a cracked Liberty Bell.
- A single payline.
- A lever to spin, which gave the one-armed bandit its name.
- Three bells paid the top prize of fifty cents.
Before it
Earlier machines used five drums of playing cards to make poker hands, and paid in drinks or cigars over the bar. Fey's simpler three-reel design allowed the machine itself to pay.
What it left
Three reels, a line, a lever and the bell symbol.
The date
Accounts place the invention between 1887 and 1895, with 1895 the year most often given. An 1899 Liberty Bell survives in the Fey Collection of the Nevada State Museum. From 1907 the manufacturer Herbert Mills produced his own version, and "bell" machines spread across America.
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How it spread
Fey rented his machines to saloons and split the takings. He could not keep up with demand and did not sell the design, so competitors built their own versions, which is how the three-reel layout became universal within a decade.
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Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; the version at your casino can differ. UK land-based stake and prize limits and online rule dates were checked against Gambling Commission and licensing authority sources on 6 October 2026. History follows commonly cited accounts. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What was the first slot machine?
The Liberty Bell is regarded as the first modern one.
Who invented it?
Charles Fey.
When?
The 1890s.
Why 'one-armed bandit'?
For the lever on the side.