Charles Fey American mechanic, designer of the “one-armed bandit” Date of Birth: 02.02.1862 Country: USA

Biography of Charles Fey

Charles Fey was an American mechanic and the inventor of the first slot machine, also known as the "one-armed bandit." He grew up in a large family with a rural teacher as his father and had 16 younger siblings. Due to their poverty, Fey started working at a young age, helping his brother Edmund when he was only 14 years old.

Even as a child, Fey had a fascination with mechanics and constantly tried to use and improve any devices he came across. At the age of 15, he left Germany and traveled to France, where he found work in a factory. When Fey turned 23, he had enough money to travel and decided to follow his uncle to the United States, specifically New Jersey.

After traveling throughout the country, Fey eventually settled in San Francisco, California, where he began working at the Electric Works Company. It was in the United States that he noticed the already popular trade machines, which would later serve as the basis for his first slot machine.

Together with Theodore Holtz, Fey established his own company specializing in electrical equipment and telephones. In 1895, Fey introduced his first slot machine called the "Liberty Bell," which quickly gained popularity. In 1896, Fey opened his own factory dedicated to manufacturing slot machines. The "Liberty Bell" was the first "one-armed bandit" and featured three rotating reels with symbols.

Interestingly, while there were already slot machines with five reels and ten cards at the time, Fey was able to automate the payout system by reducing the number of reels to three and replacing the ten cards with five symbols. Fey's machines were traditionally installed in San Francisco's drinking establishments and soon competed with the existing slot machines.

Several years later, the legislation banned slot machines in Fey's state, but the widespread demand for his machines did not ruin his business. It is known that it was in California where the young mechanic met his future wife, Marie Volkmar. They later had three daughters and a son. Additionally, it was in the United States in 1889 that Fey changed his name from "August" to "Charles."

Charles Fey's "one-armed bandit" became the precursor to countless slot machines produced over the next 100 years. He passed away in San Francisco on November 10, 1944.