My First Single Shot

**Card Shark** · 10-20-2013, 11:10 PM

A few weeks ago, my wife and I traveled to NJ to see our family. Of course I had plans to do a little pachi hunting while in the area. I have been hoping to add a Single Shot to my collection and found three different machines that I was thinking of checking on while driving back home. Unfortunately, I pulled something in my back moving some kegs around for the party (definitely not getting any younger) and we decided to drive straight home.

As it turns out a member here had saw one of the three machines on Craigslist and picked it up. Soon after the same member saw a vintage machine in my area and asked if I would try to get it for him. Turned out that the machine was literally in my neighborhood and I picked it up.

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Gary and his wife. He brought me the single shot in exchange for the machine I picked up for him.

Now I have my first Single Shot and it is definitely going to need some work.

First things first, here are the pictures...

1963 Single Shot Fron.jpg CF.jpg Back.jpg

I think dating the machine should be pretty easy...

Date Sticker.jpg

So it looks like I have a 1963.

The only manufacturer name I can find so far is this...

Sticker 2.jpg

I am guessing this means I have a 1963 Kotobuki

The machine appears to be complete, except for the missing lens cover for the center feature, doubt I will be able to find a replacement but maybe I will be able to manufacture something.

Oops, almost forgot to post a picture of the ashtray for Mopar

Front Tray.jpg

**jodini** · 10-21-2013, 08:49 AM

Looks great cardshark! It looks a lot like mine!

Have fun fixing it up. It's pretty cool how this one works. Love the sounds when it pours out and pays out...super loud against that metal on metal!
Joe

**emmadog** · 10-21-2013, 09:24 AM

Very nice.

**Moparformances** · 10-21-2013, 09:47 AM

nice looking

**mxfaiman** · 10-21-2013, 02:57 PM

The year on cell sticker is the year the patent on the artwork expired. So it lets you know it was built before that year. My guess would be probably about 57-58.

Congrats on the single shot though. I have never heard of the brand myself. I will do some looking into when I get home in a few hours.

Posted using Tapatalk

**Card Shark** · 10-21-2013, 05:53 PM

If anyone has a similar machine, I would love some good pictures of the lens that is missing from my center feature. I really think I will need to fabricate something and want to do my best to make it look original. Might have to enlist the help of someone with a 3D printer.

**mxfaiman** · 10-21-2013, 07:21 PM

Okay did some looking into Kotobuki. Actually it looks like they are still in business. KOTOBUKI | History

What they do is they make chairs and other seats. So they probably made seats for parlors so they got a small company to make special machines to go with the chairs in their parlors. If you look at the history there in 1960 it says "Now people's basic needs, for example food, were being satisfied, they began to look for ways of introducing a little luxury into their lives. The "1st Kotobuki Seating Show", an exhibition of chairs and furniture, was held at Ginza with 1500 visitors invited." Seeing it was held in Ginza I wouldn't be surprised if they did infact have a "parlor special" chair.

Also the center of your machine looks similar to the one on my Kyoraku Sun 406. It spins out, check if yours has threads and take a measurement of the diameter. I'll check and if my lens will fit I could try scanning it in and printing out a copy.

ball hopper, machine rack, other machine 006.jpg ball hopper, machine rack, other machine 053.jpg ball hopper, machine rack, other machine 057.jpg ball hopper, machine rack, other machine 058.jpg

Oh and if you want you could buy a bowl to match your machine.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-PAIR...-/181180368206