Start with the manufacturer plate
Photograph every label on the cabinet, including rear, door frame and internal service areas. Capture model, serial and regulatory identifiers at full resolution rather than typing them from memory.
Do not publish a serial number unnecessarily when sharing photos online; keep the full record in your own inventory.
Separate cabinet from game theme
The same cabinet family can host many game themes, and a theme can appear across different cabinet generations. Parts searches are more reliable when you know both the cabinet/platform and the installed game.
This is especially important for monitors, button panels, power supplies and doors that are cabinet-specific rather than theme-specific.
Use startup and service information
Boot screens and service menus may display platform or software identifiers. Photograph them rather than navigating deeper than you understand.
If the machine has been converted, note labels that conflict with the software or artwork. A mixed configuration is not necessarily bad, but it changes how you search for documentation.
Compare physical details
Door geometry, button deck, reel count, monitor arrangement and topper mounts can help confirm a family when labels are damaged. Use those clues to narrow the search, not as the sole identification method.
Why identification comes before value
Comparable sales only mean something when you are comparing the same kind of machine. Exact identification also prevents buying visually similar but incompatible replacement parts.
See current marketplace examples
Use listings to study cabinet styles, parts availability and seller documentation. A listing is not proof of legality, compatibility or condition.
Search eBay examples →Related resources
Affiliate disclosure: qualifying purchases through some merchant links may generate a commission. Marketplace listings are third-party seller claims; verify condition, compatibility and legality independently.