School me: Barcrest Reel Poker

pookdolie

Permanently Banned for excessive trolling.
Joined
Oct 8, 2009
Messages
7,935
Reaction score
96
Location
California
Hi everyone,

Just picked up this machine locally. Any knowledge you have about this game would be appreciated. Some questions I have about it:

*What exact year was it made?
*The MPU4: what shoud I know about it? Looks like it uses a cartridge? Any battery to worry about?
*Is there a way to disconnect the hopper motor and still get the credits to function properly?
*Any dip switch settings which would allow for free play? (I doubt it.)
*Is there a service mode where I can play around with settings?
*I'll post a couple more I post pictures.

Apologies for the pics with the bad lighting. The machine seems to work 100%, both lights and mechanicals. The cabinet is rough at the bottom, some of the metal parts are pitted, there's some scratching on glass pieces, but otherwise it presents well. It's pretty addictive.

If you have a similar machine and have questions for me, feel free to post them and I'll take a closer look at the game.
 

Attachments

  • ReelFullFront.jpg
    ReelFullFront.jpg
    27 KB · Views: 18
The counter below and the "BET ONE" button look like they were added later by someone. When you win and the hopper engages, you get credits in this window rather than coins. The button allows you to bet the credits.
 

Attachments

  • ReelsFront.jpg
    ReelsFront.jpg
    38.7 KB · Views: 7
  • CounterFront2.jpg
    CounterFront2.jpg
    37.8 KB · Views: 9
  • CounterFront.jpg
    CounterFront.jpg
    24.4 KB · Views: 8
Here's that MP4 module, and also a picture of the "cart" (?) plugged into it.

It says "American Reel Poker" on the module. Is that simply the title of the game, or does that mean this particular machine was made for the American market rather than shipped over after a life in the UK?
 

Attachments

  • ReelPokerDips.jpg
    ReelPokerDips.jpg
    34.3 KB · Views: 5
  • MPU4.jpg
    MPU4.jpg
    27.4 KB · Views: 6
  • ReelPokerCart.jpg
    ReelPokerCart.jpg
    21.2 KB · Views: 5
Tried to edit this post for pictures; doesn't seem to be working...
 
Last edited:
Dip switches, some of the custom counter module, and the rest of the inside.

Anyone have a manual for this game?
 

Attachments

  • DipSwitchList.jpg
    DipSwitchList.jpg
    32.6 KB · Views: 7
  • CustomCounter.jpg
    CustomCounter.jpg
    32.3 KB · Views: 5
  • ReelPokerInside1.jpg
    ReelPokerInside1.jpg
    45.4 KB · Views: 7
Cool looking machine! The Mpu4 does have a battery inside the computer unit, I just gutted a Barcrest IGT S+ conversion and cut out the soldered in battery block as it was leaking. Im sure someone on NLG would know all the answers to your questions.
 
Last edited:
Neat looking machine but I hear Barcrest parts are to come by.

Hell, even info is hard to come by.

Luckily, it's all working right now. If it ever goes down, hopefully repairs can be made to what's already there...
 
You are right about even info is hard to come by!

I had a Reel Poker but sold it. When I got it, it wasn't working at all. I got lucky and found an MPU4 on eBay and had it shipped over from the UK. Plugged it in and it worked. Mine didn't have a hopper, so I could play the game, but as soon as you won anything, that was about it.

Fun game but nothing for that machine is easy to come by.
 
You are right about even info is hard to come by!

I had a Reel Poker but sold it. When I got it, it wasn't working at all. I got lucky and found an MPU4 on eBay and had it shipped over from the UK. Plugged it in and it worked. Mine didn't have a hopper, so I could play the game, but as soon as you won anything, that was about it.

Fun game but nothing for that machine is easy to come by.

A former owner - whom I'm now in touch with - had the same problem of winning and the machine essentially going into tilt mode without the hopper. He cleverly bypassed it with a credit counter, so mine works all the way.

It's an odd duck, to be sure. Did yours have what look like roof shingles holding the bottom together? Maybe it's the same one. :D
 
I honestly can't remember what the bottom looked like. For how few of those machines are out there, it would not surprise me in the least if it was my old one! When I sold it, it had a spare set of reels and I think I had two or three spare, dead MPU4 boards. I think there were also some other spare parts but not sure.

Hmmmm. That could be my old one and I hope it is! It would definitely be great to hear that someone got it fully working instead of trashing it.
 
Back
Top Bottom