For the last 35 years I have been collecting vintage American coin operated machines.

When people use the term slot machine, this encompasses a larger number of payout slot machines. by the late 1890s these machines were primarily wooden boxes with individual wheels that turned when activated with a coin. Single-wheeled vehicles often had highly ornate graphics on the dials. The came in counter and floor model versions. Floor models often had highly decorative cast iron trim on the case and head of the coin, which often had 4-6 options for coin placement. 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

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

During this same period, many highly ornate counter-top 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 Vendor and Silver Cup,

During the same period, many cast iron table 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.

Starting around 1890 coin dropping 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 the operator’s favor. 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.

Horse 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 Peace Races. This was housed in a large ornate floor model cabinet. One would bet on a horse by inserting a coin, the race that was then run, was made by a mechanism like a player piano that read a roll and pushed the horse forward based on the particular race on the roll. Horses move by a complex mechanism that involves pneumatics.

Craps machines were also popular. These came in paid and unpaid 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 glass tube dice shooters), Pippin, On the Level, Cherry Jitters and Black Magic.

Wheel machines were introduced in the 1890s. The basic concept was similar to a carnival wheel. A coin was inserted and the wheel spun. Where it landed determined the payment. Initially, these were fairly simple machines in wooden cabinets on nondescript wheels. One of the first machines of interest is the bicycle, where there was a two-wheeled bicycle in a display case. Inserting a coin would cause the wheels to 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.

Roulette machines were also a popular variant. One would bet on several options and a payout or credit would be incurred if they won. Some of the machines are highly desirable for collectors. These include Monte Carlo, Peerless Roulette (which is a highly ornate wooden floor model with cast iron decorations), Little Scarob (which has whimsical beetle castings), and The Aristocrat.

There was a group of “skill games” with the skill of some machines adding 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 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.

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

Coin-operated vending machines were introduced in the 1890s. Almost every product imaginable was sold through these machines. The novelty of the fact that the product was being sold through a machine, very often with an unusual design or shape of the machine, and often the mechanical or animated aspect of the machines encouraged business. Some unusual models include: The Circus, which dispensed sweets and had a very ornate circus theme on the box, with a clown inside spinning and dispensing sweets. The Freeport Vendors were highly elaborate models, some of which had embossed dragons. Gabels Merchant, a highly ornate cast iron peanut vendor, Pansy Gum, Mexican Fruit. The Maniken Vendor Co. made a number of clockwork machines, including the Baker Boy, which had a baker spinning to take a piece of gum from an oven and deliver it for a penny. Loop The Loop, featured diavolo, the cyclist who looped and dished out some gum. Orbit and Orbit Jr were very ornate cast iron peanut vendors. Pansy Gum delivered a love letter with gum. Pulver created many variants of mechanical figures that reached for a piece of gum and delivered it. Roover produced several clockwork machines including Madam Zita, Puss n Boots, the Elephant which were all very 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 that dispensed gum through a clockwork mechanism. Case Pepsin Gum made an unusual fortune telling gumball machine. Lukat was a figurative cat who handed out numbered tickets. Model Gum Shop was a different cast iron version of the baker boy. A very rare peanut seller named Griffin is known. Perfume vendors include a floor model Lady Perfume Sprayer and miniature perfume sprayer, as well as cast iron Whiffs of Fragrance and a Bull’s Head Perfume, where when the horns were moved, perfume was delivered through the snout of the bull. Sunny Call was an interesting pie-shaped pie dispenser. Cigar vendors include the 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 star-studded shield, as well as postcard dispensers. Many forms of match machines were made.

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