Why do some machines have a metal bit on the underside

[Mfresh]

I've noticed a couple of my older machines have a metal strip at the bottom at the front. Any idea why?

This is what I am talking about:

 

[Martywolfman]

To stop people kicking holes in it to get to the coin box, I expect

 

[Pick Holder]

Not sure if they are factory or not to be honest but it is to protect the cash.

Saying that popping off a pinball door is not hard.

Some old games had quite thin ply (early SS era 70s).

 

[Deleted member 2463]

It means the pin was on location in Northumberland.

 

[AlanJ]

all my ballys have it , factory for sure. money box security feature.

 

[Pop Bumper Pete]

put it under "things manufactures do to stop thieves'
See also 'side amour on the cabinet' to stop people drilling holes and triggering the switches
My Heat Wave has a shied next to the credit mech for the same reason

 

[cmrl9]

Because there heavy

 

[ronnie63]

I've noticed a couple of my older machines have a metal strip at the bottom at the front. Any idea why?

This is what I am talking about:
View attachment 198046

Hey! That's my Buck Rogers, did you pinch it? Must check if it's still here

 

[Jay Walker]

Looking at the OP's picture, I'm surprised Gottlieb fitted the speaker so far forward; another entry method was to force a way past the speaker. Early Bally solid-state games had the speaker further back, probably to deter this.

I once noticed what looked like candle wax in the coin door lock of a machine, which the tubular key pushed in when inserted. I supposed it was to show a watcher if the machine had been opened, and I'd upset that during a service call.

 

[Mfresh]

Hey! That's my Buck Rogers, did you pinch it? Must check if it's still here

Yup. I nicked the picture to illustrate the point to save me lifting one of my machines up. Sorry about that!