Old coin-operated machines: an overview

Website design By BotEap.comFor the last 35 years I have been collecting vintage American coin operated machines.

Website design By BotEap.comWhen people use the term slot machine, this encompasses a larger number of payout slot machines. in the late 1890s these machines were primarily wooden boxes with individual wheels that spun when activated with a coin. Single wheel vehicles often had highly ornate graphics on the dials. It came in both countertop and floor model versions. Floor models often had highly decorative cast iron trim on the case and coin head, which often had 4-6 options for placing the coin. Some of the best known floor models include The Dewey, Lion, On the Square, Owl, Centaur, Cupid. Some of the better known counter versions include The Brownie, Silver Cup, Uncle Sam, Owl Jr. and Mascot

Website design By BotEap.comIn the period between 1900 and 1910, cast iron Floor Model trade stimulators were made. These were cast iron stands with a top piece that encased four to six reels of spinning cards. Some well known examples of these include Fortuna, Jumbo Success, The Hamilton, The Clover

Website design By BotEap.comDuring this same period, many highly ornate countertop cast-iron two- and three-wheel pay machines were created. These are highly sought after by collectors due to their rarity and elaborate designs. Some well known models include The Libert Bell, Operator Bell, Baseball Slot, Big Six, The Pilot, Little Rip, Umpire, Color Match, The Tourist, Square Deal Gum Vender and Silver Cup,

Website design By BotEap.comDuring the same period, many cast iron tabletop card machines were produced. Some of these were pay machines and others were trading stimulators, where the employee would pay you based on your results. Some well-known examples include Monarch Brownie, Your Next, Perfection, Commercial, The Trader, King Dodo, Reliable, Hy-Lo, Mayflower, Draw Poker, Pilgrim, The Register, Globe, Bon-Ton, and Victor.

Website design By BotEap.comStarting around 1890 coin drop machines were introduced. The basic concept was that a coin was inserted into the top of the machine and cascaded down the playing field hitting many strategically placed nails. The payout was determined by where the coin finally landed at the bottom. The machine was designed to be very difficult to win. There was no skill involved and the odds were dramatically in favor of the operator. Some models would also dispense gum. Well-known models include The Tower, Nickel Ticler, The Lively Cigar seller, Skillard, Yankee, The Premium Gum Vendor, The Favourite, Tri-it, Hindoo Fortune Teller, Catch the Ball, Beer Here, Happy Days and The Bouncer.

Website design By BotEap.comHorse racing games were also popular. The first version was introduced in the 1890s and they were made well into the 1930s. Some versions paid and others stimulated trade. The basic concept was that you would bet on the horse of your choice and a race would take place. if your horse won, you won. Some popular versions include Epsom-Downs, Saratoga Sweepstakes, Spark Plug, Superior Races, The Darby. One of the most complicated versions was the Paces Races. This was housed in a large ornate floor model cabinet. One would bet on a horse by inserting a coin, the race which was then run, was made by a mechanism like a player piano which read a roll and pushed the horse forward based on the particular race on the roll. Horses move by a complex mechanism involving pneumatics.

Website design By BotEap.comCraps machines were also popular. These came in paid and non-paid versions. Some of the earlier versions were highly ornate. Some popular machines include The Eagle Dicer, Log Cabin, I Will (which is probably the most ornate with art nouveau women and three dice shooters in glass tubes), Pippin, On the Level, Cherry Jitters, and Black Magic.

Website design By BotEap.comWheel machines were introduced in the 1890s. The basic concept was similar to a carnival wheel. A coin was inserted and the wheel turned. Where it landed determined the payment. Initially, these were fairly simple machines in wooden cabinets on nondescript wheels. One of the earliest machines of interest is the bicycle, where there was a two-wheeled bicycle in a display case. Upon inserting a coin, the wheels would spin and the payout was determined by the number of the wheel that landed on the arrow. Other interesting variations included The Star, Busy Bee, Automatic Vote Recorder, Bulls Eye, Wizard Fortune Teller, Comet, 20 for 1, Square Spin, and Shoot the Moon.

Website design By BotEap.comRoulette machines were also a popular variant. One would wager on various options and a payout or credit would be incurred if one won. Some of the machines are highly desirable to collectors. These include Monte Carlo, Peerless Roulette (which is a highly ornate hardwood floor model with cast iron decorations), Little Scarob (which has whimsical beetle castings), and The Aristocrat.

Website design By BotEap.comThere was a group of “skill games” with the ability of some machines added to the chance of winning, however, there was also a large component of luck, which was heavily stacked in favor of the operator. Some unusual examples include Little Knocker, where you put a coin in the machine and an owl moves when it’s hit, and if it lands on your color, you win. Other examples include Log Cabin, The Manilla, The Play Ball Vendor, Patience Developer, Japanese Ball, Sunny Boy, Indian Shooter, Play Basket Ball, Laddie Golf, Honest John, The Champion Speed ​​Tester, Chip Golf, Football, Play Golf , B&M Ball Gum Machine, Play Hi-Li, Pile Driver, Par-Ket, and Lucky Coin Tosser.

Website design By BotEap.comElectricity machines were introduced around 1900. The basic concept was that a coin was inserted and you took hold of one handle and turned another. The more the handle was turned, the greater the amount of electricity it would receive. At that time, electricity was considered to be beneficial to health. Competitions to see who could take the most of it were also encouraged. Sought after models include Simplex, Imperial Shocker, and Zsa Zsa.

Website design By BotEap.comCoin-operated vending machines were introduced in the 1890s. Just about every product imaginable was sold through these machines. The novelty of the product being sold through a machine, very often with an unusual machine design or shapes, and often the mechanical or animated aspect of the machines encouraged business. Some unusual models include: The Circus, which dispensed candy and had a highly ornate circus theme on the box, with a clown inside spinning and dispensing candy. The Freeport Vendors were very elaborate models, some of which had dragons in relief. Gabels Merchant, a highly ornate cast iron peanut vendor, Pansy Gum, Mexican Fruit. Maniken Vendor Co. made a number of clockwork machines, including the Baker Boy, which had a spinning baker to pull a piece of gum out of an oven and deliver it for a penny. Loop The Loop featured diavolo, the cyclist who looped and handed out a piece of gum. Orbit and Orbit Jr were highly ornate cast iron peanut vendors. Pansy Gum delivered a love letter with bubble gum. Pulver created many variants of mechanical figures that reached for a piece of gum and delivered it. Roover produced a number of clockworks including Madam Zita, Puss n Boots, the Elephant which were highly animated. Other unusual machines include Niagra with a moving black boy, Blinkey Eye, Columbus Model L, A Wink A Smile, Tutti-Frutti. Happy Jap was a very unusual cast iron head of an Asian figure dispensing gum through a clockwork mechanism. Case Pepsin Gum made an unusual fortune-telling gumball machine. Lukat was a figurative cat who handed out numbered bills. Model Gum Shop was a different cast iron version of the baker boy. A very rare peanut vendor named Griffin is known. Perfume vendors include a floor model Lady Perfume Sprayer and a miniature perfume sprayer, as well as cast iron Whiffs of Fragrance and a Bull’s Head Perfume, where when the horns were moved, the perfume was delivered through the snout of the perfume. bull. Sunny Call was an interesting cake dispenser in the shape of a cake. Cigar sellers include Honest Clerk and Doremus. Even toilet paper, towels, soap, and condoms were dispensed by machines. There were unusual stamp vendors, including the American stamp vending machine with a shield with stars, as well as postcard dispensers. Many forms of match machines were made.

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