How a Legend Began. Charles Fey created the Liberty Bell, the first slot machine, in 1895, marking the beginning of the history of claspay by phone slotssic slots. Three rotating reels and five symbols—horseshoes, diamonds, spades, and the recognizable Liberty Bell—were included in this ground-breaking creation. The reels would spin when players pulled a lever, and they would receive a payout if they lined up precisely.