Phony Mfg Date ?

[dailey]

Attached is a photo of my recently acquired "Wild Sapphires".  The metal plate on the cabinet indicates a mfg date of 7/97.  How is this possible when IGT didn't release this model until 1999 ? Also, I thought the early S2000's had the printer in the top box. This one is on the reel shelf. Has this metal tag been tampered with ? I'd appreciate somebody's thoughts on this.

[RB]

I have seen 1998 S2000s. The model number 96438300 does match a S2 cabinet.
Usually the serial number is inscribed inside the cabinet just in front of the hopper plate.
See if it matches the data plate.

[dailey]

I found the serial number inscribed inside the cabinet and it matches. I guess its for real.

[Ash100]

I actually had an early I Dream of Jeannie S2000 with a build date of 1997.

The only difference between it and the later ones were the Top Speakers, instead of the outside profile speakers we're used to, it had the flush mount style where the drivers are all located inside of the top box sticking inward.

With that style of speaker, there was no way to install a ticket printer into the top, so it too was mounted on the Reel Shelf.

Wish I had a picture to attach.

Curtis ash100

[erbs]

Here are a couple pics of the early speakers.

[DB26]

Those early speakers are cool! I think I like them better than what they went to.

[erbs]

I also think they are better. Speakers wont get banged around like the newer ones sticking out.

[Ash100]

Thanks for posting the pictures!

Curtis ash100

[nglayton]

I heard from a friend........

Having a fake tag would not be totally unheard of. Lots of states require the machine be 20+ years or older for legal home ownership. Assuming fake tags could be found, I bet it's pretty easy to drill one out and attach a new one with the desired date.
Looking at some tags it also wouldn't be too tough to overstamp the original date.....