Then, Charles Fey from San Franciscan designed the new version of Horseshoes, while the next step was the legendary 4-11-44 game appearing on the market in 1895. Gustav Schultze created the first nickel slot Horseshoes in San Francisco in 1893. However, they worked the same way as the first machines, and people got drinks or cigars for won prizes. The first slot machine reminding modern models appeared in Brooklyn in 1891. Guests in saloons and bars used these novelty devices to bet and then exchanged won nickels for drinks and cigars. The first gambling machines featuring racing toy horses appeared in 1885. The term SLOT MACHINE came from putting a nickel into the coin slot and was initially referred to as standard vending machines produced in the 1880s. The Law about Owning an Antique Slot Machine.Ways to Estimate Antique Slot Machine Value.