Troubleshoot 1945 Buckley Slot Machine

Budget: $50+/hr

I own a circa-1945 Buckley Horse Race slot machine that ran perfectly until my grandkids gave it a spirited half-hour workout. The purely mechanical coin mechanism is still clean and jam-free, but the electrical section now hums steadily and the machine -the coin part- refuses to reset. The hum is isolated to a single component; there’s no burnt smell or visible scorching anywhere.

I’m after broad, careful troubleshooting rather than a shotgun parts swap. Ideally you’re comfortable with vintage electro-mechanical gear—relays, solenoids, stepper units—and can trace a fault with a multimeter, schematic, or even just seasoned intuition. If you can visit Moraga, open the cabinet, pinpoint why that component is humming, and get the reset circuit working again, we’re in business.

Deliverable: a working machine (or, at minimum, a clear diagnosis and parts list if something needs ordering) so the reels spin as they should. Drop me a line with your experience on old slots, jukeboxes, pinballs, or similar, and let’s bring this classic back to life.